Graduating May Ruiz is having mixed emotions after being named the new team captain of Jose Rizal University in the upcoming NCAA Season 99 women's volleyball tournament.
However, she knows she has no shortage of guidance, especially with former skipper Dolly Verzosa now assuming an assistant coaching job under head coach Mia Tioseco.
"Sumusunod lang din ako kay coach kung ano ‘yung sabihin niya sa akin," Ruiz told GMA News Online as she talks about her first time experience as the team captain.
"And humihingi rin ako ng mga advice sa mga captains namin dati like si Ate Dolly na coach na rin namin ngayon."
(I follow what Coach says and I ask advice from previous captains like Ate Dolly who is also a coach now.)
The new role came at a perfect time for Ruiz, who is playing her final year with JRU and is out to end her collegiate career with only one mission of bringing the Lady Bombers back to the Final Four.
The senior outside spiker said having Verzosa, who was a key cog the last time JRU made the semifinals, makes their job easier as the latter understands their journeys as student-athletes.
"Nagiging madali po kasi syempre ‘pag coach natin, minsan nahihiya tayo magsabi kung ano ‘yung nararamdaman namin," Ruiz added.
"Pero knowing na nandiyan na si Coach Dolly na naging teammate namin, naiintindihan niya kami. Nakakapag-open up kami sa kanya."
(It becomes easier because when we talk to a coach, sometimes we tend to be shy about our feelings. But knowing Coach Dolly is there who was our former teammate, she understands us. We can open up to her.)
Verzosa is now in her first professional volleyball stint as she leads neophyte club Strong Group Athletics in the ongoing PVL All-Filipino Conference.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
