Ateneo to be reinforced by 4 USPF volleybelles

After leading the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) to the 3rd Inter-Private Schools Cup Volleyball Tournament crown, Baby Panther Kirstin Louise Ojeda and three teammates will reinforce the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles in the Private Schools Athletics Association (Prisaa) national volleyball tournament scheduled on April 22 to 29 in Iba, Zambales.

The 15-year-old Ojeda, Mitzi Panangin, Vanessa Lou Miñoza and Liane Valerie Miñoza were picked by the Magis Eagles as half of their lineup won’t be able to suit up for the tournament after the Prisaa implemented the rule that only players born in the 2000s are eligible to play in the competition.

“I felt really blessed to represent our region. I felt really proud of myself as well. This is gonna be my first time to enter a national competition, this is gonna be tough but I’ll try my best to succeed and to contribute something good to the team,” Ojeda said.

The Baby Panther quartet will be joined by the deadly Magis Eagles front court of Jennifer Delos Santos, Danielle Malazarte, Angelyna Grace Canieso and backcourt players Rosdine Clare Torre, Yanah Julia Sanchez and Cristina Danielle Mercado.

Due to lack of personnel, the Magis Eagles also tapped players from their training pool picking Katrina Wilson Yu, Victoria Rose Ocon, Mia Angelica Binoya and Gabrielle Alyxis De Lira to join them in the national tournament.

“We had to pick the four (USPF players) since the cut-off year is 2000 to be eligible to play. In the Cesafi, the cut-off is 1998 but Prisaa implemented the born 2000 so we have only six players left who can play and eight of them are ineligible. It’s a big challenge for us coaches” said Magis Eagles assistant coach Jamel Macasamat.