Andre Banate
Tennis
Winner of eight Grand Slams, an Olympic gold medal, and married to the spectacular Steffi Graf―these are what Andre Banate has to live up to if he’s to follow in the footsteps of his namesake, tennis great Andre Agassi.
Kidding aside, the kid is the best thing that has happened to Ateneo Tennis since current team captain, and former Philippine Under-18 number one, Ayo Canlas set foot on Loyola Heights.
The Davao native, who started playing at the age of eight, has been hitting the competitive circuit since his grade school days. “When I started winning tournaments, I realized that I had the potential,” he says.
He has been ranked as high as third in his age group. So impressive has he been that UP, UST, La Salle and San Beda have been courting him since he hit puberty.
“Even though I’m an athlete, of course a good education should come first,” he remarks when asked why he chose Ateneo.
Displaying maturity beyond his years, one can surmise by just talking to him that he is more than the typical jock. After college, he plans to go to medical school to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor. But most of all, he values the patience and discipline that years of hard work and training have etched on his persona.
Mr. Banate on the tennis court however, is an entirely different story. The cool, calm, and calculating neophyte turns into a demolition machine.
In his first stint playing for the Blue and White, Andre rallied past DLSU’s Ernesto Pantua 1-6, 7-5, 10-8. That performance, coupled with another three-set triumph, ensured Team Ateneo’s place in the Unigames finals―their first ever trip there. Though they lost to eventual champion College of St. Benilde, the rookie’s performance is a bright sign for the future of Ateneo Tennis.
As for the upcoming UAAP season, the championship is of paramount importance. Win or lose though, for Andre, it’s all about leaving it all out there. “I’ll be satisfied no matter what because I know I’ll do my best,” he quips.
If his best is anything to go by, only great things can be expected.
Sarah Uy
Softball
A good athlete does not rely on talent alone to excel in his or her sport; passion and dedication are just as important. Rookie Sarah Uy is a testament to this, proving to be a viable addition to the team as the lead-off batter in this season’s softball line-up.
“I feel honored [to be the lead-off batter] since I’m a rookie, but at the same time also challenged as a starter, I have to step up my game [and make] a good impression,” she shares.
Having played softball throughout high school, Uy has the advantage of experience. Though not as competitive as the UAAP, she has joined several competitions which helped hone her natural talent.
Her swift movements and impeccable coordination earned her not only the top spot on the batting line-up but also the crucial position of center fielder.
She may be one of the youngest on the team but she does not fall short on leadership—as she is known to take charge in the outfield.
“I think I can contribute my optimism and support,” she says. “Coach Uly [Mejia] says in a game it is 80% mind and heart and 20% skill. If and when I support my teammates as I should, it’s not only I who gets a boost of confidence but the whole team.”
Playing in the Unigames last October gave her a glimpse of what to expect in the UAAP. “Representing Ateneo felt too good to be true,” she says of her first competitive tournament.
The bond that Sarah has with softball is undeniable but her repertoire goes beyond the four corners of the field.
Prior to her decision to join the Ateneo softball team, she considered playing for the volleyball team as well. Her interest in the sport was heightened when she joined her high school’s volleyball varsity team during her senior year—she even had the privilege of training with the Lady Spikers a few times over the summer before her freshman year.
“I enjoy both volleyball and softball,” she says. “[However] I thought about it really hard and I came to the conclusion that I would feel more at home playing softball.”
Ricci Gonzales
Volleyball
Noticing the team’s height deficit, Blue Spikers coach, Boyet Delmoro, brought in four rookies. Jerick Lim (6”0), Ricci Gonzales (6”1), Raymond Cruz (6”5), and Bon Pinat (6”7) are among the new blood recruited to boost the peaking team with even higher expectations.
Standing at 6”1, Ricci Gonzales, hailing from Brent International School, is one that the Blue Spikers have high hopes for.
Veteran Spiker JR Intal pointed out Ricci as a big addition to the first six, “He’s a high leaper and a strong spiker,” he says.
With such athleticism, Ricci, along with Pinat, has even suited up for the RP junior basketball team.
“Basketball was my main sport in high school,” says Ricci, who played guard and forward for the Alabang-based Brent Lions.
“I was told to tryout [for volleyball] by a high school friend who had the same coach as the Ateneo men’s volleyball time, and he liked how I played so that’s how it started.”
In high school, Ricci was a setter, but now has to adjust to being an open-hitter. “I need more experience to get better at playing my new role as utility,” he says.
Playing substitute for veterans Neil Flores, Duane Teves and Kyle Ong, is quite a tall order. However, if and when Coach Boyet opts to go for a taller line-up—something the team is excited about with the flux of taller rookies—Ricci will definitely clock in his minutes.
Aside from adjusting to his new position, learning Filipino has also been a challenge, “[Coming from an international school] I found it hard to adapt to speaking Filipino. I would sometimes ask my teammates what our coach is instructing us to do,” he says.
But for Ricci, it’s attitude that counts more than anything. “I can contribute the ‘never give up attitude’ and I really, really, really hate losing. I guess I can contribute a little height and athleticism as well”, he says.
There will be days that he and the other three rookies will be in the rotation sporadically, or they may even find themselves not playing at all, but “a little height and athleticism” will go a long way.
