Sports profile

Three coaches, three questions

Meet Timothy James' Timmy' Sto Tomas, Sergio Veloso, and Raymund Gerard Augustine' Babes' Castillo, the three coaches at the helm of the Ateneo Volleyball Program. Fabilioh spoke with the coaches and asked them three questions each.

Coach Timmy

A member of the Men's Volleyball Team from 2004-2009, Coach Timmy served as the head coach of the Ateneo high school volleyball team until 2018. Since then, he has been leading the Men's Volleyball Team. 

1. You were a member of the Ateneo Blue Eagles Men's volleyball team (2004-2009) and served as the head coach of the high school volleyball team and now the men's volleyball team. How much has the Ateneo Volleyball program changed since you started [as a player and now as a coach]?

The support that the Ateneo Volleyball Program has given to its athletes and coaches has improved over the past decade. For the past years, the overall well-being of student-athletes has dramatically improved. As an example, Opportunities to be able to train abroad and compete internationally were introduced to the program. Being exposed to these kinds of opportunities is a dream for every athlete—the chance to develop their skills and become highly competitive changed drastically. Moreover, hiring foreign coaches helped local coaches add different perspectives on how volleyball should be taught and played. All of these changes paved the way for what the AVP is today. 

2. You were once a student-athlete; what advice would you give our student-athletes? 

One piece of advice I would like to share with student-athletes is that they should learn to prioritize the things/ events at hand. We all have different responsibilities- within the classroom, the team, the family, and our social circle. Sometimes, our responsibilities overlap, and we end up overwhelmed and lose focus on how to carry out these responsibilities. Ateneo teaches us to discern to make sound decisions on these things. Knowing what to prioritize in certain situations will help you guys find balance among all of these. 

3. What qualities of the Ateneo community inspire you the most? 

The Ateneo community will always make you feel at home, knowing that you have a supportive community behind you. The community never fails to cheer with you in times of victory and comfort you at times of defeat. Their unending love for the school and Team Ateneo is enough to fuel the fire in our hearts and always to give our One Big Fight.

Coach Sergio

This may be Coach Sergio's time leading the Ateneans, but the Brazilian native has a long resume. Coach Sergio brings a wealth of experience, forming programs and coaching young ang professional volleyball players in Brazil, Maldives, and Bahrain. Aside from taking over the head coach role for the Women's Volleyball Team, Coach Sergio serves as the coach of the Philippine National Men's Volleyball team. 

1. You're the head coach of the Philippine National Men's Volleyball team. What made you feel that this opportunity [coaching the Blue Eagles women's volleyball team] is the right fit for you?

I am part of the FIVB World Volleyball Development Program, and one of my goals is to pass on my knowledge and help the growth of volleyball. Throughout my career, I've worked with both men's and women's teams, developing players and winning multiple titles. Coaching the Philippines National Men's Volleyball team and the Blue Eagles Women's Volleyball team is a unique and rewarding opportunity in which I can share my expertise.

2. What kind of coach are you?

I am very detailed and demanding. I give my best and encourage my players to do their best, always aiming to achieve their full potential. We need mental strength to perform 110% of what we can do when doing an activity. Only then will we be outstanding in what we do on or off the court.

3. What excites you most about coaching the Blue Eagles women's volleyball team? 

As a coach, I have been developing people as players and mainly as citizens. Ateneo has the integral formation of its students as its philosophy. And being part of the Ateneo program excites me a lot because that's a concept we share. Therefore, I am eager to coach and help the Blue Eagles Women's Volleyball team achieve victories.

Coach Babes

Coach Babes is a seasoned UAAP coach in high school volleyball, helping his teams bag conference titles. He takes over the high school's boys' and girls' teams.  

1. For the first time, Ateneo will have a girls' volleyball program. Did you ever imagine that one day, you would be the one to help build it?

To be completely honest, being part of the birthing process of our Ateneo Girls Volleyball program is daunting. But to be given the responsibility to assist our young aspiring leaders in creating their blueprint to volleyball success is truly an honor. 

2. What drew you to coaching this sport?

Volleyball coaching came to me by way of necessity. I was a volleyball varsity player for my university, under a half-scholarship program, and I needed to provide for the rest. Luckily, my former high school was looking for a coach; the rest is history.  

3. What would you want the high school girls' and boys' teams, their parents, and the Ateneo community to know about you?

That it takes a "tribe" to raise a child. Growing up as a wide-eyed high school student, I considered myself an average, almost invisible volleyball athlete. However, my high school coach, supportive parents, and enthusiastic teachers helped me realize that my mind is the strongest tool in my body. As my "tribal leaders," they helped me discover that I can genuinely unlock my limitless mind through my daily academic and athletic adventures. My father once told me, "The way to your mind is through your body." This is the mental blueprint my "tribe leaders" created for me, a unique set of lenses, a perspective that allowed me to see challenges as opportunities