Two can play at that game

MANILA, Philippines - Spotting UAAP 75 Women’s Volleyball co-MVPs Abigail Maraño and Ara Galang from the crowd was not that difficult, but it wasn’t because they had their uniforms on. The way they walked simply gave away the pride of their recent three-peat victory as part of the De La Salle University-Manila Lady Spikers. With casual confidence, they tell us of their beginnings, their struggles, and the reasons why they ought to be called what they are: champions.

YOUNG STAR: Let’s go back to the very start. How did you begin as volleyball players?

ARA GALANG: I originally wanted to join the basketball team, but our school didn’t have women’s basketball so I tried volleyball. I was then picked for the varsity team. But actually, I got tired of volleyball and I wanted to stop. You just get to that point when you become tired of it. But if it’s your passion, it somehow finds a way back to your life. I discovered that volleyball was my passion during my high school senior year, just in time when DLSU recruited me to be part of their team.

ABI MARANO: For me, I started with the gritty, barefoot volleyball games on the hot asphalt in Antipolo. Then things happened, and DLSU eventually showed up in our school, recruiting me. There were lots of other schools that wanted me to join them, but I really thought of the edge La Salle could give me. Of course, I wasn’t only after volleyball, I was also after my future.

And as part of a big team like the DLSU Lady Spikers, how did you guys train for the championship?

ABI: Every time we train, our coach pressures us; it was the UAAP and we were one of the highlights. He practiced us and pressured us so that when we go out to the big court, we would know how to carry ourselves in front of the big crowds. At the same time, he gave us very difficult challenges to the point that you’re almost in tears because your body hurts, and you’d still have to wake up early the next day. But when we see our teammates and how they’d still fight on, we were reminded of our goal: the championship.

Speaking of pressure, what did you feel when you entered the MOA Arena and saw the booming crowd? Did you expect to get that kind of support?

ARA: Goosebumps! We didn’t even expect for the game to be set in that kind of venue. We were very happy to see that much support, even though half of the people kept booing us. We just focused on the people who cheered us on.Did you make any of those “manalo-matalo” promises to the team?(In unison: Walang “manalo-matalo”!)

ARA: “Manalo-manalo” lang!ABI: The word “talo” is very awkward for us. We don’t even think about it.

ARA: You really have to set your (mind on) your goals.

ABI: During the game, we didn’t have to be intimidated. We were the back-to-back champions. It’s a matter of pride, and we really had to display the “La Salle way” to play. That’s number one.

How valuable is being the Most Valuable Players for you?

ARA: It’s a challenge for me. Next year, I can’t let my game go down from what I’ve shown this season. I need to push myself harder.

ABI: What she said is true, I also said that when I was declared MVP last year. But for me, this award is just a bonus — you don’t play for the award.

What’s it like going back to school as champions?

ARA: Before, we walked around like normal people but now, boom! Your schoolmates stop you to take a photo with (us) and strangers randomly congratulate (us). It’s very heartwarming.

ABI: We found out that during the game, professors allowed students to cut just to watch it! They even pulled out a big widescreen TV just so many people could watch.

What’s the plan for next year?

ARA: Well, there’s no such thing as a perfect player. We still need to smooth things out: the way we move, our skills. I sense an even more intense training.

Four-peat?

ABI: Of course! We need to go past what we have achieved this year. As champions, other teams will be after us, so we can’t just stop. We need to go up. That’s what we need to work on. And besides, that’s everyone’s goal anyway: to become champions. Photos by Nikki Ruiz, Produced by Ralph Mendoza, Shot on location at DLSU Taft