MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo de Manila University has formally bid goodbye to coach Tai Bundit, who guided the school's women's volleyball team to back-to-back championships in the UAAP.

In a memo to the Ateneo community, university president Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Bundit, who will be leaving the team after five seasons in charge of the Lady Eagles.

"As we bid farewell to Coach Tai, we thank him for all that he has contributed to Ateneo volleyball and to collegiate volleyball. The highlight of his career as head coach is the back-to-back championships in Seasons 76 and 77," said Villarin.

"He shepherded the team to rise above all odds and win our first UAAP women's volleyball championship, which ushered a new level of competitiveness in the sport, and ignited a newfound love in the hearts of its supporters," he added.

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Villarin also thanked former Ateneo team manager Tony Boy Liao, who has now formally stepped down from his position.

"Let me also take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Mr. Tony Boy Liao, outgoing team manager of the Lady Eagles, who helped develop our volleyball program and whose support of the Ateneo never wavered," said Villarin.

Bundit was originally set to leave Ateneo even before the start of the UAAP Season 80 women's volleyball tournament, but was eventually persuaded to stay for one more season.

He went on to steer a rebuilding Ateneo squad to the Final 4, where they lost to Far Eastern University. It marked the end of a run of six straight finals appearances for the Lady Eagles.

"This season has been quite tough for the Lady Eagles. The graduation of key players and pre-season jitters required the whole team to recalibrate and rebuild. On behalf of the Ateneo de Manila, I salute the Lady Eagles and its coaching staff for being steadfast despite their being a young team and for showing what heartstrong truly means on and off the court," said Villarin of their women's volleyball squad.

The team's search for a new head coach began almost immediately, and sources said Ateneo was already in talks with a Filipino coach based abroad, although nothing has been made final.

Bundit will still call the shots for the Creamline Cool Smashers in the Premier Volleyball League.

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