Benok Ancheta vlogs reveal stranded athletes’ life in NU during quarantine
National University men’s volleyball team’s reserve setter Benok Ancheta’s workout and a day in a life vlog last August revealed the life of the stranded athletes inside NU during quarantine.
However, just like NU women’s volleyball team that is under investigation by the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) group for sports for alleged quarantine negligence, NU men’s volleyball is also accused of the same violation.
In a YouTube post of Ancheta, he recorded in his vlog how the 42 stranded student-athletes from various NU teams stay inside the campus.
“Sinamahan ko ‘yung mga teammates ko na hindi nakauwi bago mag-lockdown,” said Ancheta, who was with his teammate Ajhay Asaad Abdul in the video posted last August 4.
As seen in the vlog are members of the men’s volleyball team who had workouts in the parking area of Jhocson Residences, which serves as the dormitory for the school’s student-athletes.
“Madami tayong makakasabay dito. ‘Yung women’s basketball, ‘yung girls’ volleyball, ‘yung pep squad. Dito muna tayo ngayon, bawal kasi sa gym ng school,” Ancheta said while holding the workout programs provided by their coach.
Aside from them, members of the boys’ and girls’ volleyball team, and the women’s basketball team were seen working out in the area.
Some of the athletes caught in the vlog were Jennifer Nierva of women’s volleyball, Rhena Itesi of women’s basketball, Genard Guerrero of boys’ volleyball, and Shaira Jardio and Camilla Lamina of girls volleyball.
NU Athletic Director Otie Camangian has previously told in the meeting with JAO Group, CHED, and UAAP executives that these athletes were stranded in their dormitories are in the care of the university since lockdown was imposed and were unable to head back to their respective provinces.
With a player of NU women’s basketball team being featured in Ancheta’s vlog, Head Coach Patrick Aquino said that there is only one player to his knowledge who is stuck in the dorm.
“As far as I know, one player lang ang na-stuck sa dorm and all the others went home to their respective provinces,” he said.
Camangian and coaches of players who were seen in the vlog have not yet spoken about the new issue.
NU is set to submit a list of these athletes to the DOJ, while CHED has already handed NU a show-cause order to explain its side.