BUDS Buddin once had nothing but a dream.
He took on the sands and streets in his home province of Palawan with his bare feet, playing volleyball with makeshift equipment just to get a better grasp of the game he’d learn to live and love.
READ: How Alas' Buds Buddin went from barefoot dreamer to breakout star
What was once a long-shot aspiration will be his new reality upon being named to the first-ever Philippine team to compete in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship on home soil.
The National University star admitted losing sleep over the thought of possibly representing the country in the grandest stage of men’s volleyball.
His wildest dreams are all coming true now, although still quite hard to believe for the 24-year-old ace.
“Minsan sa gabi nga, hindi ako makatulog eh. Ang dami kong iniisip, dami pa ring pumapasok sa isip ko,” Buddin shared with SPIN.ph.
“Iniisip ko dati na sa buhangin ako naglalaro ng naka-paa lang, walang gamit. Ngayon, ito lahat, kumpletong binibigay yung allowances at food and at the same time, pwede pang makalaro sa World Championship.
“Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin ma-imagine na nandito na pala ako.”
It was his family that he long carried in his heart since taking a career-defining move to move to Manila and play for National U.
And as he scales new heights in his budding national team career, that’s the one thing that won’t ever change for Buddin.
“Alam kong sobrang proud nila sa’kin. Every time na nasa court ako, laging sila ‘yung dala-dala ko,” Buddin said.
“Sila lagi ‘yung motivation at inspiration ko kaya siguro sobrang blessed din ako kasi lahat ng ginagawa ko, para sa pamilya ko.”
Dream bigger, fight harder
Buds has come a very long way from stepping into the unknown as a young kid who just wanted to play his heart out and fulfill what once seemed to be a far-fetched dream of making a career out of volleyball.
And to that young kid from Palawan, after all he's gone and done in his life and career now, World Championship-bound Buds Buddin hopes he won’t ever lose the will to dream and the heart to fight.
“Tuloy pa rin, Buds,” he said.
“’Wag magsawang mangarap, ‘wag magsawang mag-trabaho hanggang sa maging successful sa buhay para maiangat mo pa ‘yung pamilya mo.”
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