With the second half of the UAAP Season 81 beginning this February, the Green and Lady Tennisters will battle it out to climb their way up to the top spot from their bronze bid in both the men’s and women’s divisions last season.
As new faces enter the scene and veterans get over the hump, team captains Betto Orendain and Jed Aquino, for the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, and head coach Ronald Kraut are hoping for a positive outcome. In addition, they are hoping that their recruits would effectively unleash their potential as they commence their UAAP journey.
Seasonal changes for Green Tennisters
Settling for bronze for the past three years, the DLSU Green Tennisters are seeking to clinch the top bid in the new edition of the UAAP. Even with the departure of their four seniors, the team is motivated to step it up and work even harder, especially with the energy of the added rookies in the roster. Although a change in lineup is a struggle for any team, Team Captain Orendain believes that this change could be a big factor in improving their ranking this time.
To compensate for the lack of UAAP exposure of the added players, the team has made adjustments in their system and focused on their conditioning in preparation for their matches. “We’re actually training four times a week now [compared to twice a week before] as a team, not including individual training,” the captain explained. Aiming to show off more physicality in their games, the rigorous training will help them achieve their goal this season.
As the leader of their pack, Orendain believes that his performance can be a crucialfactor in showing leadership. He affirmed to have imparted lessons he has learned throughout the past seasons to help make his teammates grow.
The team captain looks forward to seeing the chemistry of their fresh team as they compete against other schools, and he also trusts that his rookies will reveal their potential. “I’m sure of it. We just wait for the season,” he concluded.
Stepping up is key for Lady Tennisters
Aquino is well aware that there are rookies who will be debuting this season, and they are expected to fill in the void for players who have recently graduated. However, she hopes both the veteran players and the rookies would step up and help each other. “I hope lahat [mag-step up] kasi nga kaya nga UAAP kasi as a team kami. So ‘di namin inaasahan yung isa lang, kundi inaasahan namin yung lahat na mag-perform. Kaya nandito kami as a team para tulungan lahat,” Aquino expresses.
(I hope everyone will [step up], that’s why it’s UAAP because we are a team. So we will not expect from one player, but we expect everyone to perform. This is why we are here as a team to help everyone.)
With two years left in her collegiate career and the lead role of team captain of the Lady Tennisters, Aquino has been and continues to be a prime example to her teammates. She motivates them to not just be better athletes but better students as well, making sure that she herself gives one hundred percent in training and in her academics.
“Ang ginagawa ko lang is time management and making sure ginagawa ko lahat ng school works ko. So I’ll be able to perform one hundred percent sa training. Makikita nila, and mamotivate sila. Every training nandun ako pinu-push ko sarili ko para ma-push ko din sila,” Aquino states.
(What I do is managing my time and making sure I do all my school works so I’ll be able to perform one hundred percent during training, which my teammates will see and will motivate them. In every training I push myself in order to push my teammates.)
Lofty expectations
Head coach Kraut has a set of different expectations for both his teams. “For the men’s, I just told them to do their best even if we lost half of our team last year, so I’m challenging them to do the same, if not better, than the third place. For women’s, [they were] third place last year, we’re looking for first or second place this year. So it’s doing better definitely than last year,” explains Kraut.
Trusting the same system in training, coach Kraut gave more time for the women’s team to adjust since most were new recruits. Looking ahead into the season and back to the past months, he believes that the players from both teams have adapted well already. The key reminder he tells his players is to give their best each moment of the game. He shares, “I always remind them to stay in the moment.” Maintaining the same mindset each year, both the Green and Lady Tennisters are positive to improve their past standings and savor each moment of the game.
The Green and Lady Tennisters will begin their season on Saturday, February 16, at the CSA Bulacan Tennis Courts.
