VOLLEYBALL stars Denden Lazaro and Michele Gumabao overcame jitters in their new role as television analysts and did well during the stepladder semifinals of the NCAA men’s and women’s volleyball tournament on Tuesday.
Lazaro, the former Ateneo star libero, teamed up with Andrei Felix for the San Beda-Arellano match shown on ABS-CBN Sports+Action. She later admitted feeling nervous on the TV booth talking about a sport she played effortlessly but eventually got the rhythm as she went along.
“Syempre kinakabahan ako but eventually I got into it na,” she told Spin.ph after her stint.
The defense specialist, who was part of Ateneo's back-to-back championship runs, added that it's more nerve-wracking to be an analyst than to be a player. But she's grateful for the unique opportunity given to former players like her and she can't wait to do it again on Friday.
“Mas nakakakaba when you’re watching and commentating about the game,” she said. “That’s the beauty of it na they got analysts who are former volleyball players because we know what we’re saying.”
“In general it went really well and I’m really glad na I was given this opportunity,” she added. “And ‘yung tiwala na binigay sa akin ng ABS to be their analyst because being an analyst is a big role. You bridge what’s happening on the court to the viewers, you explain to them what’s happening (and) why it’s happening.”
Meanwhile, Gumabao, who already had a commentating stint a year ago for Shakey’s V-League, had to do a reboot after joining Anton Roxas in the broadcast panel for the College of St. Benilde-University of Perpetual Help match.
“Ibang experience naman ‘to, (kasi) nakalimutan mo na kung paano and you’re putting yourself in the shoes of a different person naman,” said the former La Salle star.
Gumabao is quite familiar with the demands of being on camera after her stint in the reality show Pinoy Big Brother.
“But syempre you have to be mindful of whatever you have to say,” she said. “Dapat best foot forward so ayun, enjoy naman.”
“This is just the start of something new that I want to do and I’m just very thankful for the opportunity,” she added.
Aside from Lazaro and Gumabao, Aby Marano will also be an analyst for the NCAA volleyball tournament. Marano will be on board on Friday for the CSB-Arellano game.