FAR Eastern University middle blocker Celine Domingo admitted that her thesis has something to do with her recent struggles in UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.
From averaging 11.9 points, good for No. 13 in the league, in their first nine matches, Domingo has been the missing link for FEU’s offense averaging just four points in their past three games, although the Lady Tamaraws won two of those for an 8-4 win-loss record at third place.
The fourth-year Tourism student has been struggling balancing her student-athlete life as she focuses on their thesis about Motivation and satisfaction visiting urban green parks in Quezon City, where they visit Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife, La Mesa Dam Water Shed and UP for field study.
“Nasa pagpo-focus ako, kasi thesis ko ngayon. Major thesis ko. Pahirap na ng pahirap ang ginagawa,” said Domingo, who scored four points in their three-set win over NU on Wednesday at the Arena in San Juan City.
The reigning UAAP Best Blocker has been lacking sleep for the past weeks and even recalled her scoreless game in their three-set loss to Ateneo, where she only slept for three hours.
“Nu’ng before ng game sa Ateneo siguro three days akong three hours lang ang sleep, ganun,” the middle blocker said. “Three to five hours lang ang sleep ko kasi may deadlines akong hinahabol.”
The 5-foot-10 Lady Tamaraw insisted that it shouldn’t be an excuse but her lack of sleep has been limiting her movement inside the court because of her fear of sustaining an injury, which she even saw in a nightmare.
“Alam ko namang hindi excuse yun pero nahihirapan ako kasi first time ko yun na magpuyat. Ako kasi maaga akong natutulog so ayun nahihirapan ako,” Domingo said. “Kahit iba yung iniisip mo na gusto mong gawin pero parang ang katawan mo bumibigay.”
“Saka natatakot din ako gumalaw kasi puyat nga ako, kaya baka mamaya, well napanaginipan ko kasi na-injured ako kaya,” she shared then, knocking on wood in the hallway of the Arena.
The good thing is Domingo and her group are almost done with their thesis but there is an upcoming problem on Sunday, where they get to defend their thesis on the same day FEU takes on University of Santo Tomas in an all-important match at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
“Ang defense kasi namin sa Sunday eh. Eh di ba may game kami sa Sunday, ‘Lord kayo na po bahala sa akin, charot,’” Domingo said. “Ewan ko di ko alam. Wala pa kasi kaming sched kaya sana yung mapuntang sched namin ay umaga para makahabol ako sa MOA.”
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