FAITH Nisperos cherished her gold medal in the 2018 Palarong Pambansa secondary girls volleyball especially after playing through an injury in her final year of eligibility in the annual tournament.
The 18-year-old Nisperos suffered an ankle sprain in her left foot during training, forcing her to miss the rest of the elimination round games of the Palaro held in Ilocos Sur.
The National University standout, however, suited up for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the finals where National Capital Region defeated Calabarzon in a thrilling five-setter to win the title.
Nisperos said she was determined to play as many games as possible for NCR.
“‘Yung ankle ko, it may be injured but my heart and love for the game will help me. So I have to do everything. Dasal lang ako. Answered prayer,” said the UAAP Season 80 juniors MVP.
During the championship match, Nisperos played despite her ankle injury until in the fourth and fifth set where the pain was already unbearable.
“First set, wala akong nararamdaman pero nung fourth set, hindi ko na magalaw masyado. Fifth set, hindi na ako naglaro,” said Nisperos, a four-time Palaro campaigner.
She, however, was proud to to see her younger NCR teammates led by Palaro MVP Angel Canino show the way for the team.
“Siyempre grateful because ito ‘yung pinagdadasal namin na sana mangyari ito,” said Nisperos, who still has one year left to play for the NU Lady Bullpups.
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