IT IS understandable to assume that the success of a team is determined solely by the efforts of its players and coaches, the men and women whose names are listed on the stat sheets and make the headlines. They are, after all, the ones who we see battling it out on the courts and fields to represent our university.
However, lost in the shuffle of names on the official rosters are the unsung men and women whose sacrifices are just as great as those who wear the jerseys. From student managers, trainers and even utility men, each Ateneo team has a collection of dedicated individuals who work behind the scenes to make sure that everyone is ready for each season.
Different roles
One such individual is senior interdisciplinary studies major Jose Cruz, the current head student manager of the Blue Batters. A varsity baseball player himself in his high school years, Cruz decided in his first year in the Ateneo that full-on college baseball was not a path he wanted to pursue anymore. “I felt like I was over that stage,” he shares. “I did [play varsity baseball] all my life and suddenly I didn’t want that commitment in college anymore.”
Ironically, he now finds himself in a situation that demands nothing short of one hundred percent commitment, albeit not in a role he’s accustomed to. Cruz knew that he could not bring himself to abruptly leave the game he loved, so when an old teammate invited him to try managing the team in his sophomore year, he took the opportunity immediately.
Another athlete-turned-manager was Ellie Huang (BS CTM ‘13). Though she was part of the Lady Shuttlers’ roster in her first year of college, she eventually decided that managing the team was a better role for her. “I felt that I could be of more help if I was a manager instead,” she says in a mix of English and Filipino.
Both Cruz and Huang were recognized for their dedication when they were given the Manager of the Year award by the University Athletics Office. Cruz was awarded in 2012 and Huang in 2013. Despite the honor, Huang stays modest about her achievements.
When asked about the award, she immediately cites the team’s recent championship as the reason for her recognition, letting her own hard work and dedication take a back seat.
Many associate the jobs of student managers with menial tasks such as water and Gatorade duties, but they would be mistaken if they think that these are their only responsibilities.
For one, they are expected to attend team trainings but are required only so far as their schedules allow. They are sometimes tasked with finding sponsors for the equipment the team uses, or taking videos of the games to help coaches review and adjust their game plans. More taxing sometimes is the paperwork the managers fill out for the College
Athletics Office regarding transportation, class excuse letters and official lineups, all of which are essential for the team to continue to compete.
Their sacrifices are often overshadowed, however, by the public’s perception of the “perks” they receive. For many other students, signing up for these managerial positions is usually thought of as a means to avoid the required National Service Training Program (NSTP) or Physical Education classes.
The managers, on the other hand, simply shrug the criticism off. “[The students] think that managing is just an excuse for NSTP. It’s more than that. It’s really about committing and dedicating your time and yourself to the team and the sport. It’s very fulfilling,” Cruz says.
Masaya ako dito. Kahit sabihin mo na pagod ka na, nandiyan naman lambing ng mga [players]. Kasi parang mga anak ko na rin mga ‘yan.
The nitty-gritty
While the student managers’ hard work and dedication cannot be denied, few will ever compare to the 12 years of effort of William Abarientos, known by many as simply “Mang Will.”
Though he originally applied to be the team referee in 2001, Abarientos’ role has expanded to an all-around serviceman for the Blue Eagles. “Siyempre tulungan, nagiging all-around: Water boy, nagmo-mop, minsan towel boy. Sa madaling salita, utility. (Of course, you help out. You become an all-around sort of person: Water boy, the one who mops, sometimes the towel boy. In other words, utility),” he says.
On most days, Abarientos’ routine starts when he arrives at the Moro Lorenzo court at three in the afternoon. From there, it’s a nonstop flurry of mixing Gatorade and organizing all the equipment until the Blue Eagles’ training ends at 8:30 in the evening.
His night, however, does not end when the facilities’ lights go out. “After ng [Eagles’] practice, nagtatrabaho pa. Naglalaba pa ako ng mga practice jersey (After the Eagles practice, I’m still working. I wash the practice jerseys),” he shares.
Game days, on the other hand, are an entirely different routine. Starting the weekend at 8:30 in the morning, Abarientos and the rest of his colleagues busy themselves by preparing all the necessary things the team will need for their afternoon game. Of course, even when the final buzzer has sounded, the work is far from over. Preparing recovery meals, distributing the players’ towels and jackets and collecting their jerseys are all part of the post-game checklist.
Family
These men and women are subject to much fatigue, hard work and sacrifice, but what often makes them stay is the special bond they have developed with the players they manage. “We have a brotherhood, we’re so close. We always make it a point to do something,” Cruz shares about the team.
Even the usually stern Abarientos softens when he admits, “Masaya ako dito. Kahit sabihin mo na pagod ka na, nandiyan naman lambing ng mga [players]. Kasi parang mga anak ko narin mga ‘yan (I’m happy here. Even if you say that you’re tired, the players’ affection is there. They’re like my own kids),” he says.
For these individuals, it is not the recognition of making the roster or the perks of getting the job that pushes them on. Rather, it is the love for the game and the love for their team that keep them dedicated and motivated each and every day. They may never be featured in the latest sports headlines, but they are just as responsible for their team’s success as the coaches and players who don the Blue and White.
