MANILA, Philippines – National University's (NU) Jasmine Nabor on Thursday sought to clarify her situation with the Lady Bulldogs, a day after coach Babes Castillo revealed that the setter was doubtful to play in UAAP Season 81.

Castillo said Wednesday that both Nabor and veteran spiker Jorelle Singh may not suit up for the Lady Bulldogs in the upcoming collegiate season, as neither player is training with NU right now. However, both Nabor and Singh are still enrolled in the school and are attending classes.

On Thursday, Nabor told ABS-CBN News that neither she nor Singh left the NU women's volleyball team of their own volition.

"'Kami ang tinanggal," she revealed. "Hindi kami umalis."

"'Yung sinasabi niyang hindi kami nagte-training, nag-text ako sa team manager (Bing Si Diet) noon. Sinabi ko na, huwag muna kaming mag-training, if 'yung purpose lang ng training is for BaliPure," she added, referring to Castillo's club team in the Premier Volleyball League. 

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Nabor questioned the purpose of joining the NU team in training, as both she and Singh play for a rival club team, the PayMaya High Flyers.

"Magkalaban kami," she said. "PayMaya 'yung team namin, then sila BaliPure. So anong gagawin namin doon? Wala kaming gagawin sa training, kasi sila lang (BaliPure players) ang tututukan."

Their efforts to clarify their situation with the team were for naught, according to Nabor, as every meeting coincided with a PVL game.

They were thus surprised to find out during the PVL conference that they had been cut from NU roster. Nabor said that she only discovered this development through her teammates, whom she remains close to despite playing for different club teams.

"Noong nalaman namin 'yun, kinausap namin agad si manager," she said. "Nakipag-usap kami… para lang sabihin na gusto pa namin maglaro."

"Kaya lang naman kami nakapag-salita na hindi na kami maglalaro, kasi nalaman namin na tanggal na pala kami," she added.

Nabor also revealed that Castillo supposedly made their ouster from the squad official on Wednesday – another development that she found out from a teammate.

The playmaker also made it clear that coach Roger Gorayeb has nothing to do with the current situation. Gorayeb used to coach NU before being replaced by Castillo following a pair of underwhelming seasons. The veteran mentor now coaches Nabor and Singh in PayMaya.

"'Yung sinasabi nilang dahil kay Coach Roger kaya kami hindi maglalaro? Maling-mali sila doon," Nabor stressed. 

"Hindi kami na-brain wash. Kasi nag-start lang naman na hindi na kami siguradong maglalaro kami, kasi nalaman nga naming na tanggal na kami (sa NU)," she added.

Regardless of their status with the women's volleyball team, both Nabor and Singh still plan to finish their education in NU.

"Ang plano namin is mag-aral na lang kami," she revealed. "Kasi, may scholarship pa rin kami, kahit 'di na kami maglalaro sa NU. Kasi hindi naman ang manager ang magbabayad ng scholarship – NU na mismo."

According to Nabor, she and Singh enrolled in NU in the very last day of enrollment – and did so as discreetly as possible.

"Patago pa kami nage-enroll, kasi ayaw namin ipaalam sa kanila, kasi natatakot kami na baka i-hold lang ang scholarship namin," said Nabor, who further said that they have not received any allowance from NU since the start of the PVL Reinforced Conference.

"Okay lang, kasi aminado naman kami na hindi kami nakakapag-training, kasi sa PayMaya nga kami," she said.

However, Nabor wanted to clear her name after so much chatter on social media that painted her and Singh in a bad light.

"'Yung malaman namin sa iba na hindi na kami part ng team, na selfish kami, unworthy teammates? Hindi na ako payag sa ganoon," she said. "Kasi, ginawa naman namin 'yung part naming as a player, lalo na noong UAAP."

Nabor still has two years left of eligibility in the UAAP, while Singh is set to enter her final year. The setter said that currently, they have no plans of taking their talents elsewhere.

"Wala kaming balak lumipat," she said. "Dito kami magtatapos, kahit anong mangyari. Player man kami or hindi."

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

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