Sunday, August 04, 2013
Volleyball - How it all started
"Hiponia serves it long. And the Season 70 UAAP Champs are the Lady Tamaraws of FEU!"
If I would be a fan of anyone or anything, it would definitely be VOLLEYBALL.
I used to play the sport. Although it was all for fun. Our class during high-school was very into this sport. EVERYONE plays it. I remember even improvising a ball made out of crumpled manila-paper just to be able to play it. One classmate even broke a florescent bulb while we were playing INSIDE our classroom.
Then I got engaged with the sport competitively. During our
mini-olympics, I would join in the men's division for volleyball. I was also part of the varsity team of our school. But that was nothing serious. All I know is that I was enjoying the game.
During my last year in high-school, I needed to be transferred to another school. I was a bit excited, because I know that the school I was transferring to had a solid volleyball program. I tried out. I got accepted in the team. I was positioned as a setter. There I experienced
proper volleyball training. Long warm-ups, Rotation and Positioning, and a lot more. I would go to training after classes and on Saturdays. I would go home sore, and I didn't mind. I was enjoying.
But before I got the chance to compete, I had to quit. I talked to my coach - my mentor - that I was quitting. It was affecting my studies and my church responsibilities. One more thing, he was honest that he was developing a program concentrated on juniors. We seniors were only second in his priority. Eventually, my co-seniors in the team also quit.
During college, I didn't have as much time with volleyball. Although, we had our annual sports fest in church, that was the most volleyball I had during that time. I also played in the inter-college sports fest, where our newly formed College of Arts and Sciences team placed second against the College of Medicine team who was been playing together for a long time already.
It was also during college when I discovered TV-volleyball. Volleyball then was a sport with little TV coverage, as compared to basketball. I was thrilled to see UAAP Womens Volleyball had TV coverage via Studio 23. Through that TV coverage, I met volleyball stars like the Balse-Bernal duo, or the Daquis of FEU who was starting to make a name for herself, there was also the scrappy AdU team, and a lot more.
UAAP Season 69, I remember the Championship game between FEU and UST. All I can recall is the crying FEU squad who lost to the powerful and complete UST line-up. Then came season 79. I got to watch the entire season. The 3-way 12-2 standing among UST, FEU, and AdU. This was the season of
contrapelos. During the elimination round, UST always won against AdU and can't beat FEU. FEU had UST's numbers but has always lost to AdU. AdU never won a game against UST but has always beaten FEU. Thus, the identical 12-2 standing among these teams. As seen in the video above, FEU eventually won the best of three finals against Adamson, which they have never beaten during the elimination round.
Suddenly, I became more engaged to the sport as a viewer. I started going to San Juan Arena to watch the games live and to see my favorite players in action. During that time, it was not difficult to secure tickets. Just go to the venue and get your tickets at the entrance. I was there during the AdU-FEU championship, and that was the most crowded game I watched during that time. The volleyball spirit was fun and alive. The volleyball crowd are also intelligent viewers. I felt a sense of belonging whenever I watched the games live. Suddenly, I got involved to the sport more, even compared to the time when I was playing it.
I am a fan of Volleyball. I used to say this all that time whenever asked which team I supported. If there is a good hit or a good play, I give my applause. If a player gets injured, I sigh. If a game arrives to its crucial part, I stand with the crown and cheer on. It feels great to look back at this sport, which I consider now as part of my life. But, it is even more exciting to look forward. With the increased visibility and support that this sports has been getting lately, I just can't help but get excited. I just feel like the evolution of the volleyball is also my journey. There are more plays to make, Hits to dig, Sets to Give, and Spikes to nail. Whichever direction this sports is headed, I am sure to support it all the way through.
Pogssz
10:07 AM |