PH teammates, coach rally around Tin Agno amid hail of criticism on social media

Instead of firing back at her detractors, Tin Agno says she finds strength and motivation from the encouraging words of her coaches and temmates in the Philippine Under-23 team. Dante Peralta

From: Reuben Terrado and Mei-Lin Lozada

SPIN.PH

May 7, 2015, 09:40 pm

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Source: http://www.spin.ph/volleyball/news/tin-agno-roger-gorayeb-negative-comments-support-poor-play-pre-judged-asian-u23-womens-volleyball-championship

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THE Philippine team led by Roger Gorayeb has rallied around libero Tin Agno, who has come under fire on Twitter and other social media networks for her performance in the Asian Under-23 Women's Volleyball Championship.

Agno has become a trending topic for the wrong reason on Twitter, receiving bad and sometimes rude comments about her supposed poor play for the hosts in a team where she is part of the starting six.

But Gorayeb was quick to defend the Far Eastern University star, saying she was 'prejudged' for her early struggle in the tournament.

“Si Tin kasi, masyadong na-prejudged ‘yung laro ng bata na para bang hinusgahan na siya na habang buhay nang ganun ang laro niya,” said the outspoken national head coach.

“Kung mahina ang loob niya, hindi na maglalaro ‘yun, magtatago na ‘yun,” Gorayeb said.

Gorayeb reiterated his support for Agno, insisting that the libero is playing well in the tournament. He also advised the player not to mind the criticism.

“Sabi ko, ‘wag niya isipin ‘yung mga sinasabi ng iba. Maganda ‘yung linalaro niya. Nakaka-recover na siya. Wala na kaming hihilingin pa,” Gorayeb said.

Agno also shrugged off the brickbats.

“Hindi naman ako naglalaro para sa kanila eh, sa mga taong hindi naniniwala. Nandyan na ‘yan eh," she said. "Kapag naglalaro ka, may mga taong maniniwala at hindi maniniwala sayo. So ako naglalaro ako para sa team, sa dala-dala kong team, sa bayan ko, sa family ko, at sa mga taong naniniwala sa akin.”

Instead of firing back at her detractors, Agno said she finds strength and motivation from the encouraging words of his coaches and teammates.

“Opinion nila ‘yun, sa kanila ‘yun,” Agno said. “Sabi nga ng mga teammates ko at ng mga coaches ko, hindi lahat ng tao kaya mong i-please. ‘Yung sinasabi nila is outside of your control na.

“Sinasabi nila na i-prove ko na mali sila, pero ako kasi ilalaro ko lang ‘yung laro ko. Sabi nga ng mga coaches ko, kapag na-feel mo sa sarili mo na nabigay mo ‘yung 100 percent mo, wala ka dapat ika-down kasi hindi lang naman ikaw ang player sa court though malaking factor ako (kasi) ako ang nagre-receive.

“Hindi naman kasi ito biro na liga, hindi ito birong team na ka-level lang namin. Mas advanced sila, ‘yung height nila, ‘yung skills nila talaga ano, para sa akin lessons ‘yung previous games namin,” Agno said.