FROM Palawan to the world, Buds Buddin has come a long way.
And it was a path far from ideal, but one he’ll forever be grateful for, nonetheless.
At age 23, Buddin took a leap of faith that has now brought him on the cusp of taking his talents to volleyball's grandest stage on home soil next year: the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship.
READ: PH hosting of FIVB World Championship seen to nourish grassroots
It all began in the streets of Palawan, where his family still resides to this day, in which a young ‘Buds’ didn’t have the luxury of playing with shoes, and yet, still discovered his passion for the game.
This, before he'd be tapped to join local training camps and competitions to kickstart his humble dream.
Fast forward to what has been the biggest year of his budding career yet in 2024, the volleyball dream that started in his island province took twists and turns as a right hand fracture weeks before National University’s eventual title conquest in UAAP Season 86 put his aspirations on pause.
His injury resulted to a half-season absence and an eventual exclusion from the first Alas Pilipinas player pool.
Such setbacks nearly led him to believe that he failed his family and himself, as the humble dream he once had began to fade fast.
“Nu’ng naglabas ng pool, wala ako sa pool. Parang umayaw na rin ako eh, kasi nagka-injury ako ng ilang beses nung offseason tapos paglabas ng pool wala ako. Dream mong mag-national team, pero wala ka sa pool, so parang napanghinaan na rin ako ng loob,” Buddin said.
Fate had other plans, of course
A Buddin(g) dream come true
Buddin would turn a pair of unfortunate circumstances to two of the greatest feats he’s ever held.
A late-season UAAP comeback allowed Buddin to play his part in the Bulldogs’ four-peat before eventually receiving his first-ever seniors’ national team call-up.
He’d go on to win best outside spiker awards, the first of two in his career, in Alas’ back-to-back bronze-medal hauls in the 2024 SEA V.League upon filling in the big shoes left by an injured Bryan Bagunas and Japan-bound Marck Espejo.
Now set to take on the world stage in a year’s time as arguably one of the nationals’ most prized scoring weapons, Buddin was left in awe of what’s still to come for him in his biggest fight for flag and country - and family - yet.
“Dati, sa kalye lang ako naglalaro, ngayon nag-UAAP ka, nag-national team ka, then after nu’n, world championship. Sobrang saya kasi kung i-imagine mo, dati naglalaro ka lang na wala kang sapatos, tapos ngayon kumpleto na lahat, 'yung mga makakalaban mo is world champions, mga iniidolo mo, so sobrang excited ako,” said Buddin.
“Alam ko, may pressure sa amin na kalabanin sila kasi sila 'yung pinakamataas na team, (pero) may one year pa naman kami para mag-prepare, so kung ano yung kakayanin namin, dun lang kami. 'Di namin ipu-push nang sobra.”
Paying, and playing, it forward
Whatever happens from here on out until next year’s World Championship and all that’s still to come, Buddin’s purpose is clear.
Every time you’ll see the Alas spiker take the volleyball taraflex, part of him’s putting his heart in the game for his past and present coaches, his family, and the future stars of the sport who have dreams as big as he once had.
“Thankful lang din ako sa family ko na nandiyan sila palagi para i-cheer up ako and ayun, lahat ng effort and sacrifices, nagbunga naman. Thank you sa mga coaches kasi na-appreciate nila 'yung effort ko. 'Yung trust nila sa akin, 'di ko sila binigo kasi gusto ko lahat maging worth it," he said.
Buddin added: “Dati dream ko lang, ngayon nandiyan na ako, so ayoko lang pakawalan. Lahat ng opportunities talaga na binibigay sakin, gina-grab ko and ayaw ko nang pakawalan.”
“Sa mga bata na nangangarap, sana mas maging inspired sila na maglaro para at least, sa susunod na panahon, sila naman 'yung makakapaglaro diyan.”
Let ‘Buds’ be proof that dreams will always, and in all ways, be valid.
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