MANILA, Philippines—Michelle Morente caused some stir when she left Ateneo and transferred to De La Salle in September 2017.
Morente, though, won’t be suiting up at all for the Lady Spikers in women’s volleyball with the defending champions instead slotting in former University of Perpetual Help star Lourdes Clemente in the final lineup for Season 81.
Morente represented De La Salle in the UAAP Season 81 beach volleyball tournament and her inclusion in the first-semester sport meant that she’s exhausted all her playing years in the UAAP.
Clemente, who passed the UAAP’s mandatory eligibility period for a student coming in from the NCAA, meanwhile, will play out her fifth collegiate playing year as a Masters student after graduating with a degree in Tourism at Perpetual.
With her collegiate career over, Morente will suit up for F2 Logistics in the Philippine Super Liga to play with former La Salle stars Kianna Dy, Dawn Macandili, and Mary Joy Baron who all graduated from the school in 2018.
Another player not included in a Season 81 lineup is former U-17 attacker Nicole Magsarile for University of Santo Tomas.
Fighting Maroons head coach Godfrey Okumu said Magsarile still has to develop as a more lethal wing hitter and that it would be a waste if she would be included into the Lady Maroons’ Season 81 roster and spending time behind the pecking order of Diana Carlos, Isa Molde, Marian Buitre, Caryl Sandoval, and Roselyn Rosier.
Carla Sandoval, the fourth scoring option for University of Santo Tomas, wasn’t included in the Golden Tigresses’ Season 81 lineup but she will play for Foton in the PSL.
Toni Rose Basas emerged as Far Eastern University’s second fiddle to Bernadeth Ponns in Season 80 won’t be playing for the Lady Tamaraws this year due to her shoulder injury.