BEHIND EVERY team of student-athletes is a group of dedicated student-managers who ensure the stability, well-being, and promotion of their respective Atenean squads. Working tirelessly from the sidelines, student-managers have played a pivotal role in upholding the reputation of Ateneo’s athletes and the school’s sports program. 

GUIDON Sports features three unique stories of student-managers who discuss their fondest memories, biggest learnings, and hardest challenges in becoming a student-manager. 

On and off the field: Aysha Hernando

Crossing from player to student-manager, Aysha Hernando (4 BS BIO) has given everything she can offer to best serve the Women’s Football Team. 

Hernando originally dreamt of playing for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, but an ACL injury she suffered in Grade 12 momentarily halted her aspirations. Showcasing her love for the sport and willingness to contribute, Hernando was motivated to still be part of the team by applying as a student-manager since her freshman year.

Being around the team, Hernando would make use of the time to learn more about the team’s dynamic and playstyles. This relationship with the team would later on contribute to her player-manager stint in her third year. After two years of recovering from surgery, Hernando was set to make her return as a player in UAAP Season 85. Despite playing a few preseason games, the Blue Eagle’s comeback attempt was cut short by another ACL injury.

Unfortunately for Aysha, this injury marked the end of her career as an AWFT player. However, she did not let the connection she formed with her teammates fade, as she continued being their student-manager.

“Being a player, you were always in training so you knew what to do. As a [former] player, I knew how to serve them the best way possible,” Hernando said. 

As a student-manager for the Women’s Football Team, her roles included reserving classrooms, making sure the budgets were used properly for the team’s needed equipment, checking on the players’ welfare, and designing social media posters. In performing these duties, Hernando relied on her bond and tight-knit connections with the team to get the job done. “We’re open to one another. I know them because I’ve played with them. I see them almost every day so I know how they work,” Hernando shared.

Despite the fond memories Hernando has built with her teammates over the years, she also acknowledged the difficulties that came along with the job. Managing a big team, Hernando found difficulty collecting all the forms and requirements needed from players.

Aside from this, there was added responsibility on her part during her junior year as both a student-athlete and student-manager. As a player, she had to wake up at 5:30 AM every day for training, then proceed right away to a full day of classes and managerial meetings with different offices. On top of this, Hernando had many requirements outside of the AWFT that needed her attention.

Being enrolled in a rigorous pre-medicine course, she experienced difficulty balancing her time and keeping up with all the demands. Amid fatigue and stress from a heavy workload, Aysha confessed that seeing the players appreciate everything she does for them made her sacrifices worth it.

Through all the struggles and tireless efforts, Hernando’s biggest motivator to push through is her love for serving the team. “I don’t need to be a player on the field to see how much I’m able to make their lives easier [whether it be] by filling up their jug or getting their jerseys from the UAO,” she said.

Nearing the end of her student-manager stint with the AWFT, she reflected on an incredible run of service which in many ways has also given back to her. “The best thing about it is having 20+ sisters. It’s so refreshing to have all that love in a family and share womanhood,” the senior acclaimed.

Marking a fulfilling four-year experience, Hernando has deemed herself valuable both on and off the field by exhibiting an unwavering amount of support, love, and commitment to her teammates.

Different sceneries, new experiences: Nadine Lee

Nadine Lee (4 BS ME) was laser-focused on her academic duties by not joining any student organizations throughout her first two years in college. Wanting to experience something new from her predetermined route, a referral from a departing manager from the Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team (AWBT) would provide Lee with a vastly different scenery.

Starting her role as student-manager during her junior year, Lee explained that her tasks for the AWBT needed flexibility due to the all-around nature. Recounting her experience as an AWBT manager, Lee’s responsibilities ranged from managing the logistics, financial, transportation, and administrative needs of the team.

As she accomplished her role as a student-manager, Lee recalled having numerous tough encounters where she felt burnt out due to the sport’s demanding weekly game schedule, having little-to-no breaks in between.

“It’s also hard to manage your time [as a manager] because you have to be there [at the] venue before the call time or hours before the game starts,” Lee added.

Struggling to manage her time, Lee felt the difficulty even more whenever she had to balance her other responsibilities as well. At times, she became physically exhausted and emotionally drained while handling her academics at the end of the day.

Despite the burning commitment her job demanded, Lee persevered by reminding herself why she joined in the first place: The bonds and relationships Lee had formed throughout the team inspired her to push through these challenges.

By establishing a meaningful partnership with the team, Lee continues to do her work thanks to the people within the Blue Eagles. “I wanted to do my work and keep on going kasi I’d like to help them and lift some of their burdens,” Lee stated.

Among the treasured connections Lee has built, her relationship with Head Coach LA Mumar and Assistant Coach Bacon Austria stood out for her the most. Lee cherished moments when she would converse and eat with them after training. Furthermore, Lee would find herself going to the University Athletics Office (UAO) just to visit Coach LA’s office, where Mumar can catch up with her or ask her personally about her well-being.

With her AWBT stint nearing its end, Lee aims to apply what she learned during her tenure to her life post-graduation after working with other people from different backgrounds.

Despite leaving the confines of Katipunan, Lee insists that her relationship with the team will forever go beyond the hardwood floor. “Even after I graduate, they’re still gonna be my friends and the coaches will remain as my mentors,” Lee reassures to herself.

Akin to a shape of a ball: Miguel Asis

Miguel Asis (4 BS ITE) confidently described his journey as a full circle. He started his career as a utilities staff member, handling the equipment or serving water to the Ateneo Juniors Basketball Team. Now the Head Manager of the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team (AMBT), Asis remained grounded on his values from when he first started through servanthood.

After his successful stay with the high school team, Asis was invited to join the AMBT staff, starting his career in the program’s bubble at Cervini Hall before Season 84.

Despite the good that came with being a part of a storied group, Asis learned the lows of being a member of a sports team the hard way after the gut-wrenching outcome of the last game of Season 84.

“Basketball teaches you that nothing is ever guaranteed. Sinasabi nila na bilog ang bola (They would say that the ball is round [to describe the game’s unpredictability]),” Asis said.

Regardless of the difficulty a demanding role calls for, Asis persisted simply for his unyielding love for basketball, as he could not imagine his college life doing anything else. “I’ll hold onto it for as long as I live and I just hope that whatever passion anyone has, they’d do the same, because it’s a rare gift to know what you want to do in life,” Asis shared.

Among the experiences that made Asis feel grateful for his stay with the Blue Eagles was his relationship with the players, especially Chris Koon. Migs introduced himself to the then-rookie, whom he would eventually consider as his “brother from another mother.” Asis, who grew up as an only child, admitted that being a part of the team gave him the brothers he never had.

Besides his unformidable bond with the players, Asis emphasized his relationship with his co-managers by trying to establish a culture as a servant-leader. “I [want to] be a leader and that’s what I tried to do the whole time, […] leading through example [so that] it’s not all talk,” Asis shared. 

Looking back at his fulfilling experiences for three seasons, Asis deemed winning a championship without stepping on the court to be the best thing about being a student-manager. Furthermore, Asis felt proud of building a legacy through doing what he loves.

With the UAAP Season 86 coming to an end, Atenean athletes are being celebrated for their incredible performances. Bringing athletes to their best potential are the managers who have personified magis-like efforts through their tireless work on the sidelines.

Hernando, Lee, and Asis are inspirations for future student-managers who wish to be part of the growth and success of Ateneo sports. Their unique stories of sacrifice and unconditional love for their teams are reminders that winning is not just up to the players, but ultimately a collective effort.