Ateneo’s Faith Nisperos. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo women’s varsity teams are Lady Eagles no more.
The school has decided to unify student athletes and varsity teams under the “Blue Eagles” name, regardless of sport, gender, or age group.
Ateneo president Fr. Roberto Yap SJ announced the significant change in the overall branding of its athletics program.
“It is a recognition of the fact that each of our student athletes, whatever their sport or year level, represents the mens sana in corpore sano (sound mind in a sound body) ideal: excelling in the classroom and in the sporting arena, hallmarks of well-rounded Ateneo education and formation,” wrote Yap on Thursday.
“We will further solidify and strengthen the “One Ateneo” spirit, bringing together our community not only in sports, but in our shared mission to be a force for good in the world.”
Ateneo women’s volleyball team led by Dani Ravena, Faith Nisperos and Vanie Gandler will be the first to debut under the Blue Eagles name as it opens its title-retention bid against rival La Salle on Thursday in the UAAP Season 84 at Mall of Asia Arena at 4 p.m.