AT AROUND 7:23PM on October 30, Ateneo de Manila University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ announced through his personal Facebook account that Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Tai Bundit “is still with the team.”

This came after a meeting which included Villarin, Bundit, and some university athletics staff to discuss the current internal struggles of the team.

Villarin also appealed to fans for patience and understanding as the situation is still currently developing and the struggles the team faces will take time to resolve.

“I also appeal to your better sense to refrain from any speculation or spreading of falsehood that may besmirch the reputation of our fine players, our good coach, and our school,” he said.

Villarin also said that he will soon meet with the players of the Women’s team to address the issues.

Bundit was not with the team towards the end of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Collegiate Conference season, although this is rather common around this time of year as he usually heads back to Thailand to be with his family.

Earlier reports stated that the veteran head coach wanted to spend more time with his family back in Thailand as his reason for his departure from the team midway through their preparation for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Women’s Volleyball tournament.

This came along with rumors that some players were disgruntled with the intensity of training and the lack of playing time.

In an interview with ABS-CBN Sports published yesterday, team manager Tony Boy Liao said that Coach Bundit did not resign, but was instead asked not to report for training as the head coach for the Lady Eagles.

In the same interview, the longtime manager revealed that players were growing unsatisfied with Bundit as they would go through “extreme training” but wouldn’t actually play in games.