Despite having two more years in the UAAP, Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles ace spiker Kennedy Batas is still undecided on his future with the team, as he now has an opportunity to play for the national team.
Batas will be graduating in June as he has already finished his bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, majoring in Filipino Literature and Management, and minoring in Marketing.
Although the final list of the training pool for the Philippine national volleyball team has yet to be released, Batas revealed that he was recently invited to join the national team.
He said, “Siguro mag-focus muna ako doon sa next ko which is ‘yung national team since I got invited. Doon muna ako magpo-focus then we will cross when we get there kung mag-stay pa ako or not kasi let’s see where this UAAP break will take us.”
Batas, who is the favorite to take home the MVP award based on unofficial numbers, admitted that he has already received messages from club teams.
“Yeah, meron naman pero hindi ako nagmamadali. If gusto nila ako talaga, ayun pupunta ako doon,” he admitted.
In his three years, the UAAP Season 87 was his best playing year yet as he scored 264 points in the eliminations. Batas was also in the top 10 in best servers, best attacks, best receiver, and best digger.
Unfortunately, Batas did not experience competing in the final four as he settled for consecutive fifth-place finishes in his three years.
“Kinapos talaga siya, though sobrang laki ng tiwala ko sa team namin na makakapasok kami sa Final Four. Naniniwala naman talaga ako na hindi talaga ibibigay sa amin ng ibang teams ‘yun kasi gusto rin nilang manalo,” he ended.
“At siguro, ‘yung pangatlong taon ko na same result – 7-7 kami, fifth place – siguro motivation na lang namin ‘yun kung maglalaro man. Gagawin talaga ‘yung best para at least makuha na talaga ‘yung goal sa last year.”
