Standing in front of the empty University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) stadium, thinking, “This is it.” In just a few hours, the dream of competing in the UAAP would be fulfilled. A rush of adrenaline courses through the athletes’ veins, and a burst of excitement fills their senses. All the hard work and sacrifices they have put in since they were young is right in front of them – the UAAP dream – waiting to see them play their hearts out.
*The following interviewees are former MGCNLCA students who have competed in or intended to compete in the UAAP. (Chess: Hillary Murillo, Shariz Ngo; Swimming: Johansen Aguilar, Kelles Que, Shaye Uy; Volleyball: Abbie Lim, Jian Tan)
Hillary Murillo (Chess): “I realized that I wanted to participate in the UAAP during my tryouts to get a scholarship. When my coach put me up against that season’s team members and told me that if I could beat them, I’d get into Team A (the UAAP playing team), my competitive instincts kicked in, and I wanted to win.”
Johansen Aguilar (Swimming): “Swimming served as a stepping stone for me to enter college with a scholarship. As early as grade school, I was offered a high school scholarship to Ateneo High School to compete in the UAAP, however, I prioritized my education in MGCNL, so when the time came to enter college, it was already my goal to compete in the UAAP and represent my chosen university.”
The stands are now packed, filled with many different school colors and banners. The crowd roars with cheer as the games begin and the athletes step into the stadium. It’s all here–no turning back now. Years and years of hard work and perseverance led up to this very moment.
Abbie Lim (Volleyball): “Our team practiced twice a day, every day. On weekends, we practically spent the whole day (around 10-12 hours) on court -- training. We also had training camps that allowed us to focus on volleyball. Needless to say, preparing for the UAAP came with immersing ourselves in volleyball 24/7. Preparation for the UAAP went beyond just what we did on the court, though. There was a lot of bonding as a team through meals and trips. We also had events where we met with sponsors, alumni, fans, and media. Having to prepare for photoshoots and interviews was very unique and interesting.”
Kelles Que (Swimming): “During Season 82 of the UAAP, there were morning trainings from Monday to Saturday along with going to the gym 3 times a week. Trainings usually start at 5:30 am but I had to wake up at 4:00 am since I had to drive to school.”
As the games went by, the UAAP delegates made new friends, had new experiences, and collected lifelong memories. In one of the biggest collegiate leagues in the country, it is almost impossible to come home without bringing memorable moments to look back on.
Shaye Uy (Swimming): “My most memorable moment was winning the championship on my very last UAAP season. I had already stopped swimming for about a year before I decided to start training and join the team again for this UAAP season. As expected, it was difficult to get back to where I was. But it was here that I also learned the biggest lessons – that doing my best and having the support of my teammates was more than enough for me, and enough to even win the championship!”
Jian Tan (Volleyball): “Although I got into DLSU and hoped to pursue playing in the UAAP after graduation, there were life events that pushed me to change my mind. Playing in the UAAP was a dream that I had shared with many people, however, I felt called to do something else with my college journey. I was expressing to Coach Ramil de Jesus, the head coach of the DLSU Lady Spikers, that I had changed my mind about joining the team, but he was beyond understanding. He explained that unlike me, who has the privilege to choose another path, there are athletes who indeed need the sport to hold onto their scholarships. It was a humbling moment for me, and it gave me a newfound appreciation for the empowerment that sports can actually bring.”
You may be wondering, “What can I do to play in the UAAP?” Our very own achis and ahias were able to do it then, inspiring us all Newlifers to strive to be excellent like them. Here are some tips they would like to share with aspiring MGCNL athletes who would want to compete in the UAAP in the future.
Shariz Ngo (Chess): “Just go for it. It definitely won’t be an easy journey. Being an athlete can be very lonely because not everyone understands and there are things that you have to sacrifice. One thing that I was very grateful for in my UAAP journey was that even if I was already playing for a different school, my MGC[NL] coaches, Coach Simeon, Coach Hubert and Coach Grace, were always present to the point that they were literally there in almost every game in the two seasons that I participated in. As long as you’re not doing anything wrong, don’t be afraid to chase your dream and fight for it. It’s worth it.”
Shaye Uy: “I was in the exact place you are right now, training and competing to represent MGC New Life. Although this is where you are currently, and it’s no small feat, know that you can dream bigger and achieve things you could never even imagine, like competing in the UAAP! With the right mindset, perseverance, grit, and faith, you can get to where you want to be. Just focus on your goal, don't lose sight of it, and have faith throughout the process. I promise it is going to be so worth it when you finally get there!”
*The interview responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Click here to read the full version of the interview responses: UAAP: Interview Responses
Commentaires