Women's volleyball: UE's Roselle Baliton shrugs off haters — 'Dedma na lang' | ABS-CBN

ADVERTISEMENT

Women's volleyball: UE's Roselle Baliton shrugs off haters — 'Dedma na lang'

Women's volleyball: UE's Roselle Baliton shrugs off haters — 'Dedma na lang'

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Mar 15, 2017 06:23 PM PHT

Clipboard

UE's Roselle Baliton has opted to tune out detractors saying she doesn't deserve to be on the national women's team training pool. Arvin Lim, ABS-CBN Sports

MANILA, Philippines — University of the East (UE) setter Roselle Baliton received hurtful texts and tweets after she was named to the women's national volleyball team pool, but the Lady Warrior simply shrugged off her critics and focused on her game instead.

Baliton's inclusion in the 25-member pool raised eyebrows, especially as the 6-foot-1 playmaker is still growing into her new position as setter, having played as a middle blocker for most of her career.

National team coach Francis Vicente, who is also Baliton's coach in UE, justified her inclusion by pointing to her height advantage and insisting that she was quickly learning the ropes.

All eyes were thus on Baliton when UE took on University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 79 tournament on Wednesday, and the 18-year-old setter put up decent numbers: eight points, four of which came off aces, and 25 excellent sets. However, the Lady Maroons took the win, 25-14, 18-25, 25-15, 25-10, and UP setter Ayel Estrañero came away with 42 excellent sets.

ADVERTISEMENT

Baliton, however, was unfazed. "Dedma na lang [I just ignore them]," she told reporters when asked about the criticisms.

According to Baliton, she received hurtful text messages telling her to withdraw from the lineup and her Twitter notifications wereflooded by mentions from fans as well.

"Hinahayaan ko na lang," she said. "Dedma na lang. May mga nababasa ako, pero sabi ko, ganoon talaga. Part ng life 'yun. Siyempre, maraming nakatutok sa lineup."

[I just let them be. I ignore them. I read some things, but I said to myself, that's just how it is. It's part of life.]

"Nahu-hurt din ako, pero accepted ko naman," she added. "Hilaw pa ako as a setter, and maraming mas magaling din. Hindi ko na lang iniisip 'yun. Ginawa na lang 'yun ng coaching staff for the betterment of the team. Alam ko na mas marami akong matutunan sa training pa lang."

[Of course I'm hurt, but I accept the criticisms. I know I'm still raw as a setter, and there are many who are better than me. I just don't think about it. I know the coaching staff did that for the betterment of the team, and I know I will learn a lot in training.]

Besides, Baliton says, it wasn't all negative. There were some positive comments as well, and her teammates were there to lift her up.

"May mga negative comments, pero nasasabayan din 'yun ng teammates ko na, 'OK lang 'yan, Ate Sel.' Parang nali-lift up pa rin nila ako. May mga comments na positive din, and doon na lang ako sa positive para hindi naman ma-down ang sarili mo," she explained.

[There are negative comments, but my teammates were there to tell me that it's OK. They lifted me up. There are positive comments as well, and I just focus on them so I won't get down on myself.]

Baliton said she badly wanted to win on Wednesday for her coach, who had borne the brunt of criticisms from fans. Though she was unable to lead UE to victory against UP, she vows to keep trying and prove that Vicente was not wrong in putting her in the pool.

"Hindi ko na lang iniintindi kung may mga comments sa labas ng court. Nabuhayaan ako, kasi hindi pwede 'yung kakampi, which is coach, hindi pwedeng makita 'yung kakampi ko na ginaganon. Hindi ko kakayanin 'yun. Actions na lang," she promised.

[I don't pay attention to the comments. I won't let them criticize my coach like that. I'll prove them wrong through my actions.]

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.