FOR FOUR consecutive seasons, Ateneo has boasted the Rookie of the Year (ROTY) accolade for Women’s Lawn Tennis. With another impressive lineup of recruits, there is a strong case for them to extend the streak even further. The Lady Eagles welcome three new faces in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Lawn Tennis tournament in Bettina Bautista, Janelle “Titan” Llavore, and Shaira Rivera.

After falling short in their title run last season, the Lady Eagles acknowledge there is no guarantee they will find themselves back on top—especially after losing singles specialist Khrizelle “Wani” Sampaton and her clutch performances. Despite her departure, however, Team Captains Jana Hernandez and Jana “Boo” Pages know that these girls are ready to fill the void. “Although they are rookies, I expect them to be able to compete with the veterans this season,” Hernandez says.

Seasoned rookies

Though these girls are newcomers to the UAAP, they already boast an impressive number of achievements. Before arriving at Loyola Heights, Bautista took the reins as captain of the Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) Women’s Lawn Tennis Team in high school. She also had success in the local circuit, competing in the Milo-Technifibre Age Group and Palawan Pawnshop Age Group tournaments. Llavore, on the other hand, had been a Palarong Pambansa competitor since third grade. Aside from being the earliest to pick up the racquet among the three rookies, she also represented the Philippines in the Juniors level.

The last of the recruits is the nationally ranked Rivera, who sits at the number four spot in the Philippines Tennis Associations’ Women’s Singles rankings. As part of the Philippine Tennis Academy, Rivera was exposed to both local and international tournaments. On top of four gold medals in the Palarong Pambansa from 2012-2016, she also represented the Philippines in the 2016 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Future Stars tournament in Singapore.

Life as a Lady Eagle

Despite coming from different backgrounds, all of them share the sentiment that adjusting to the next level of competition and navigating through student-athlete life will not be easy. On top of the increased competitiveness and intensity in the collegiate scene, Bautista also noted the vast changes off the court, saying, “The workload in college is more difficult compared to when I was in high school, [and] finding the time to study [will be more challenging] since I have more training hours [now].”

These changes will require these freshmen to adjust at a faster pace, as they demand the ladies’ swift maturity and independence. “I feel like it really takes some time to adjust to a new environment. You have to step out of your comfort zone because you’re on your own in college,” adds Llavore.

Aside from that, team chemistry was also difficult to cultivate early on. According to Hernandez, it took some time for everyone to adjust, especially considering that the three rookies hailed from different parts of the Philippines.

However, with the help of their teammates and captains, and their annual trip to Cebu, these girls have started to feel at home. “I think our annual Cebu trip really ties the knot in terms of getting the new members to be with the team cause after the trip, we all get so close,” comments Boo.

Making their mark

Despite being the youngest members of the Ateneo Women’s Lawn Tennis team, these girls are revving to deliver. Llavore simply explains that she will do whatever it takes for her team, and for the love of the game. “I will give it my best shot this upcoming season and just play my heart out while enjoying the sport that I love.”

With expectations running high for the new recruits, the experienced Rivera is not intimidated by the unfamiliar atmosphere and uncharted hardcourts in the UAAP. “Every competition is the same and the ball is round [whether it’s] international [or] local.”

It is evident that the pure passion for the sport will take the girls far in their careers, but their dedication to their craft and their team can propel them even further. And with this promising set of new members, the Ateneo community will definitely have a lot to look forward to. “I’m really confident with the rookies we have this year,” Pages said. “I really believe all three of them are equipped with the skill and experience to bring us to the championship.”