Dennise Michelle Lazaro

Den, as her teammates call her, says, “My mom got me into the sport; she used to play back in the day”. Den joins four other rookies in a team looking to reload its roster following the departure of key players to graduation. Despite this, however, Den says “[The team still] has an intact line-up from last season, and with their experience and heart, Ateneo will be number one.”

While the rookie admits to being overwhelmed and anxious at the same time, she has no time to feel the jitters because volleyball training, consisting of plyometrics and drills, kicked off early in the summer.

When asked about her idols, the libero says that she looks up to Ateneo volleyball alum Charo Soriano, whom she got to spend some time with during this year’s Shakey’s V-League. Tennis superstar Serena Williams is another of her sports favourites.

Her sports credo – passion is key – may just be the winning attitude the team needs to garner another podium finish. And as Coach Roger Gorayeb looks to improve from last season, Den adds to the team’s continuous growth and strengthening foundation.

Shaira Gonzalez

Birth date: June 15, 1989
Height: 5’7
Course: 3rd Year BS Management
College : Far Eastern University
High School: Imus Institute High School
Elementary: Anabu II – A Elem. School

Image by: GearHead

Name: Rabeh Al-Hussaini
Birthday: August 11, 1988
Weight: 240 lbs
Height: 6’7

Former Team: Philippine Christian University Baby Dolphins
Current Team: Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles
Jersey no: 19

How did you start playing your sport?
I started when I was twelve (12). I never really intended to play that sport though.

Reasons for competing in that sport?
I started playing so that I could help my family with its financial problems so I could get a scholarship and study for free.

Were you a varsity player during your elementary and high school days?
I started playing first (1st) year high school.

How much do you usually spend playing sports?
I never really played heavily on the streets. I learned and honed my skills in Philippine Christian University.

What do you do when you’re not playing sports?
Usually, I play computer games. Sometimes I hang around campus fields and jog around.

What are your greatest achievements/awards/moment as an athlete?
I got an award during my third (3rd) year high school in PCU. I was the most defensive player back then. Now in college I got a breakout season during my fourth (4th) year and bagged multiple awards.

• Mythical five (5)
• Appeton Most Improved Player of the Year
• Jolibee Champ of the Year
• Most Valuable Player of the Year

What’s your course? Are you enjoying it?
Well, basically you just have to get used to it. Specially here in Ateneo, there are no special treatments. No matter who you are or how good you are, once you are in this school, you are just a regular student and have to fulfill the requirements of the school.

My course is inter-disciplinary studies taking up the tracks of Psychology and Communications. My course is about multiple courses taking up in the same time.

When you were a kid, what do you want to be? Are you fulfilling it? Or do you have plans of fulfilling it in the future?
When i was I kid, I really never looked in the future, I always look on whats in front me and what I have now.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Where do I see my self in five years? I still don’t know. Let God do the things for me and I will just keep working on what I have.

Any lucky charm? Where’d you get it?
I don’t believe in any lucky charms, premonitions etc. what I believe is that what you put on practice will come out in the game, if you work really hard, all things will become easy. But when you star playing around, your game will surely drop.

Who are the players you look up to or any idols?
In the NBA it’s Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan. In the local PBA, it’s my brother Carlo Sharma.

Thanks for your time, Rabeh. God bless and good luck! Image by Joseph Le.

Name: Danielle Michiko Castaneda
Birthday: July 9 1986
Weight: 135 lbs
Height: 5’10

College Team: U.P volleyball team
Sports: Volleyball
Jersey no: 3

How did you start playing your sport?
When I was in High School I was into Basketball, but for some reason they took the sport out, the only varsity team left is volleyball, and that’s how it all began.

Reasons for competing in that sport?
It’s fun! And the sport is more on strategy, it’s not all about power, kaya there’s always room for experimentation… yun yung fun part!

Were you a varsity player during your elementary and high school days?
Back in elementary it was all basketball, I started playing volleyball when I was in 4th year H.S

How much do you usually spend playing sports?
Before I used to play as in everyday, now that I’m working I usually play during the weekends, or only if I have the time.

Where do you usually play?
U.P. before in U.S.T (natl team)

What do you do when you’re not playing sports?
Surf the net, play with my niece and nephew, play guitar freaks, chill at my friends house, party,take pictures whenever there is time to shoot..board(skateboard) with friends.

What are your greatest achievements/awards/moment as an athlete?
Well I don’t have any awards, but probably the best thing that happened to me as an athlete was when I got in the national team.

What’s your course? Are you enjoying it?
Special education, I always wanted to be a teacher…YUP IM ENJOYING IT!!!SUPAAH!!

When you were a kid, what do you want to be? Are you fulfilling it? Or do you have plans of fulfilling it in the future?
I always wanted to be a teacher! yeay!!! I’m finally a teacher! Probably make a non-profit organization for children with special needs, be like an ambassador for something…only a dream but I’m slowly fulfilling it.

Is it hard balancing academics and athletics at the same time? How’s your studies?
Well I finished college not with flying colors but with good grades. I guess that’s good enough. Besides, I have a great job. Not that I’m bragging about it. Hahaha! I’m just proud! That’s when I proved that you can balance academics and sports, its all about time management and a lot of hard work and patience!

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Where I am right now is where I wanted to be. A simple life. Just enough to be satisfied with what I have.

Any lucky charm? Where’d you get it?
Lucky charm? Hehe! WHERE CAN I GET ONE? PLEASE TELL ME… ahahaha!

Who are the players you look up to or any idols?
Rubie de Leon, Charo Soriano, Ging Balse, Carmela Lopez(my teammate)

Name: Xavier Conrad Fernando Señoren
Birthday: March 23, 1990
Weight: 160 lbs
Height: 6’0

College Team: ADMU Men’s Volleyball team
Former Clubs: DLSZ Juniors Volleyball Team
Current Club: ADMU Men’s Volleyball team

Sports: Volleyball
Jersey no: 09

How did you start playing your sport?
I got recruited way back in grade school and I never stopped playing.

Reasons for competing in that sport?
Even though it’s a non-contact sport, people could still talk and taunt each other and that’s the beauty of it.

Were you a varsity player during your elementary and high school days?
Yep. Grade 5 till 4th year high school.

Where do you usually play?
UAAP Games at The Arena and FEU GYM

What do you do when you’re not playing sports?
Party or hangout in the mall.

What are your greatest achievements/awards/moment as an athlete?
MNCAA Best Attacker, DLSZ Outstanding Athlete, Rookie of the year, and DLSZ Most Improved Athlete.

What’s your course? Are you enjoying it?
BS COMTECH in Ateneo and yes, I’m enjoying it.

When you were a kid, what do you want to be? Are you fulfilling it? Or do you have plans of fulfilling it in the future?
I’ve always wanted to be a doctor but I guess it’s all down the drain now. I’m now trying to be business-oriented because I want to be a business man.

Is it hard balancing academics and athletics at the same time? How’s your studies?
Well nothing is really hard if you have time management. I’m not excelling in studies but I could catch up with the lessons I missed from joining tournaments.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Working.

Any lucky charm? Where’d you get it?
I usually have rituals I do before each and every game and it seems to be working. Haha!

Who are the players you look up to or any idols?
Timmy Sto. Tomas! My teammate and good friend.

Photo by Nolan Empalmado/Fabilioh.com

Name: Karla Bello
Birthday: April 24, 1986
Weight: 115 lbs
Height: 5’3″

College Team: Ateneo De Manila University
Sports: VOLLEYBALL!
Jersey no: 5

How did you start playing your sport?
I started playing when I was in grade 4. But I joined the team when I was in grade 7 -Miriam GS. From then on, varsity na ako.

When I was young, we had this sports fest in our village… but they wouldn’t let me play because I was too young. So I wanted to learn how to play, joined the team and then learned to love the sport!

Reasons for competing in that sport?
Well, it would be because of my teammates. They’re my friends and family narin. So I compete for them para sa mga paghihirap na pinagdaanan namin. (yuck cheesy! Haha. But it’s true! )

Were you a varsity player during your elementary and high school days?
Yep, from grade 7 and buong High School.

How much do you usually spend playing sports?
Noon? Every freakin’ day. Hahaha. Ngayon, once in a blue moon.

Where do you usually play?
Blue Eagle Gym!

What do you do when you’re not playing sports?
Study. Yuck. Haha. And on my free time? I go out with the men’s team, wherever they are –mostly dota. Hahahahahahaha!

What are your greatest achievements/awards/moment as an athlete?
Best server for one Shakey’s V-League conference. Syempre when we placed third and second sa V-League.

What’s your course? Are you enjoying it?
Masters in Business Administration. Hell yeah!

When you were a kid, what do you want to be? Are you fulfilling it? Or do you have plans of fulfilling it in the future?
Flight attendant, so I can travel the world. Hehe. But right now… I’m looking for other jobs that does traveling too. Hehe.

Is it hard balancing academics and athletics at the same time? How’s your studies?
Not really, I survived didn’t I? Hehe. MBA’s looking good, about to finish in 6 months… sana!!!

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Working, and hopefully, traveling

Who are the players you look up to or any idols?
Yumilka Ruiz from Cuba and Maurizia Cacciatori from Italy.

Thanks for granting me the opportunity to feature you here, Karla. Continue playing great volleyball, more power and God bless! Oh, as I always say, stay fit! – Galwin

Name: Adrianne Mei Limpe Uy
Birthday: June 3, 1994
Weight: 128 lbs.
Height: 5’3 ft.

Current Club: International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM) girls softball team
Sports: Softball
Jersey no: 34/10

How did you start playing your sport?
When I was 7 or 8 I saw MLB on TV and I though that it was pretty cool so I wanted to try it, my mom asked some of her friends about where I could play softball and then her friend told her about ILLAM. And that started it all.

Reasons for competing in that sport?
At first i just wanted to try it out, then when I turned 11, I was already old enough to compete in the Philippine Series and other competitions, the training was hard and my teammates were awesome, and my coaches were the best! So that’s what kept me going, the thrill of it all and the people I play with, and because I love the game.

Were you a varsity player during your elementary and high school days?
No, there’s no softball team in my school.

How much do you usually spend playing sports?
Well, the most would be about 61,000php for a year. That includes the coaches fees, food, my equipment, my personal training, etc.

Where do you usually play?
Colegio de San Agustin(CSA) field, Rosario Sports Arena, and Polo Club field.

What do you do when you’re not playing sports?
Lounging around, watching TV, using my computer or out with my friends, or studying.

What are your greatest achievements/awards/moment as an athlete?
Going the the World Series twice! (2006 and 2007)

When you were a kid, what do you want to be? Are you fulfilling it? Or do you have plans of fulfilling it in the future?
I still am a kid, well teenager, I want to study in Stanford and be a physical therapist or a business woman. Or both.

Is it hard balancing academics and athletics at the same time? How’s your studies?
Sometimes, but not often. My grades are just average. Practicing is my choice so I know what im getting into, I can handle it.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Either in college or just graduated, with a good job or playing for the Philippine team.

Any lucky charm? Where’d you get it?
Haha none, we always just pray before we start the game.

Who are the players you look up to or any idols?
Coach Rey Pagkaliwanagan is my awesome pitching coach, he’s the best, and taught me what I know now. He hits really far also.

Ueno, she’s a japanese pitcher, she pitches really fast.

Thanks for granting me the opportunity to feature you here, Adrianne. Stay fit! – Galwin