Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Anusorn “Tai” Bundit will stay as head coach of Ateneo’s women’s volleyball team.
Ateneo president Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ announced the news on Monday after team management and the Thai coach met several times the past week.
“The meetings have not been in vain since a number of valid concerns were raised and will be addressed systematically by the Ateneo de Manila. One important common denominator in these gatherings is what I saw to be the shared desire of both Coach Tai and the Lady Eagles to apply themselves wholeheartedly to representing our school and doing their best to play for the championship. And to achieve this, they know that they have to make the needed adjustments and mutual accommodation in their preparations,” he said in a statement.
“In view of all this, I am happy to announce that both Coach Tai and the Ateneo Women’s Team will continue to work together to make this season’s campaign successful.”
The Lady Eagles have been in disarray since last week, with majority of the team reportedly calling for Bundit’s ouster, with the main issue stemming from the multi-titled mentor’s hard practices.
Villarin, however, has put his foot down to resolve the issue and get the team’s act straightened up as Ateneo prepares for its campaign in the coming UAAP Season 80.
Villarin also called for unity as the Lady Eagles try to put the issue behind.
“I know that much has been said in social media about our coach and our Lady Eagles. With people taking sides, no one has emerged from all this unscathed. I request everyone to be more careful with their social comments, to be more understanding of how terribly painful it must be for the coach and especially the women to have their character impugned in public based on speculation. The team’s concerns, I must say, are legitimate, and so we will address these moving forward,” he said.
Villarin has then tasked the school’s Athletics Office to take part in addressing the said issues.
“I am asking the Athletics Office to assist in addressing these concerns and to help in the healing process,” he ended.