Barbara Escueta

Photo by Arthur Tan.

A FORMER two-time team captain of the Blue Babble cheerleaders, Barbara “Baba” Escueta (AB Comm ’08) has traded in her cheerleading uniform to now become the coach of the Blue Babble Battalion’s cheerdancers and lifters.

Prior to becoming a cheerleader in her freshman year of high school in School of the Holy Spirit of Quezon City, Escueta had already been a competitive gymnast for seven years. She attributes her initial interest in cheerleading to her first coach and her fond memories of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Cheer Dance Competition (CDC) when she was younger.

“My coach in gymnastics was a cheerleader for [the University of the Philippines]. My dad brought me to watch her compete in the UAAP cheerleading competition in Araneta when I was in grade school, so I learned about how exciting and grand cheerleading is. From then on I never forgot about cheerleading,” she recalls.

Through the invitation of her older gymnastic teammates and schoolmates, she went on to join the school’s pep squad. With her gymnastic skills and a growing interest in dancing, she decided to push herself to try out the sport.

Escueta shares that her most notable experience as a cheerleader was her first UAAP CDC. She remembers the adrenaline of performing before a huge crowd in Araneta Colliseum and wearing the Ateneo uniform. Another unforgettable experience was the first concert of the Blue Babble Battalion, entitled “Out of the Blue,” in which the team had the chance to experience showcasing their dance skills in a different way.

When asked about how she feels now coaching the team she was once a member of, Escueta shares, “When I was a captain, I only cared about my teammates and the routines. But now I have to step back, look at the bigger picture and think of the long-term program for each member and for the whole squad.”

Because of her new position, Escueta emphasizes her appreciation for her past mentors in both gymnastics and cheerleading, acknowledging the amount of determination and skill it requires to manage a team.

Currently, two Escuetas serve as coaches in two different varsity teams in the Ateneo. Her older brother Yuri Escueta is the head coach of the Men’s Basketball Team B. Similar to his sister, Yuri was the team captain of the basketball team during his college years.

She quips, “We were in college the same time so I was cheerleader for Babble during the time he was playing for Ateneo. Our parents hit two birds with one stone during UAAP games since they watch Kuya Yuri, then they see me during halftime. It is the same thing all over again but now we’re both coaching already.”

Just like she did during her glory days in college, Barbara will once again be serving the Blue and White community with her older brother. This time, however, they’ll both do so from the sidelines as mentors of their respective teams.

Yuri Escueta

Photo by Alexis A. Casas

IN OCTOBER of last year, the Ateneo Blue Eagles Team B—fondly called “Team Glory Be”— brought home the Fr. Martin Cup championship after successfully defeating Team B of the San Beda Red Lions. While the players on the court were praised for their outstanding performance, standing on the sidelines was Team B Head Coach Yuri Escueta, beaming with pride.

As a former Blue Eagle himself, Escueta is no stranger to great victories. After all, he was the co-captain of the 2008 University Athletic Association (UAAP) Men’s Basketball champion team. This is the same championship that kicked off the historic five-peat of the Ateneo.

At the time, Escueta was already imagining that he would be calling the shots one day. However, the idea of coaching was, at this point, more of a back up in the event that this initial plan did not pan out.

“My dream was to play in the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association),” he says. “But siympre hindi lahat nakakalaro sa PBA (But of course not everyone gets to play in the PBA).” It was this realization that made him seek out another path, which is what ultimately led him to transition from player to coach.

“I was a point guard, so siyempre extension ako ng coach on the court,” he says. “Coach Norman [Black] was my idol. I learned a lot from him, so I realized that I eventually wanted to coach more than play basketball,” he explains in a mix of English and Filipino. True enough, after hanging up his Blue and White jersey, Escueta eventually joined the coaching staff of the Blue Eagles.

Though the job descriptions of player and coach differ greatly, transitioning from one to the other wasn’t that difficult for Escueta. “From you being the one who’s listening, you’re the one talking,” he says. “You’re the one teaching the players now.” He also attributes his current success to former Head Coach Black and Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga, who, he says, greatly helped ease his transition.

In addition, Escueta himself also started his playing career with Team B. His experience playing for the team has proven invaluable in the way he currently handles Team Glory Be, given that he is already equipped with the knowledge that he can impart onto his players who aspire to play in the UAAP.

Incidentally, Escueta’s younger sister, Barbara Escueta, is also currently the coach of the Blue Babble Battalion cheerdancers and lifters. Interestingly enough, both Escuetas were captains of their respective teams in 2008. They were also both already employed elsewhere when they realized their respective callings to coach. “We were both working already, but of course, you can’t leave his passion behind,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

For a coach as young and dedicated as Escueta, it is undeniable that a bright and promising career lies ahead.