MADDIE Madayag is shrugging off the pressure in filling in the big shoes of Jaja Santiago as she looks to make the most out of her first women’s national volleyball pool call-up.
With Japanese team Ageo Medics disallowing Santiago in a possible 30th Southeast Asian Games campaign, Madayag admitted that it would have been more fun to have the 6-foot-5 middle blocker on the women’s national team.
“Mas masaya kung andoon si Jaja diba?” the former Ateneo Lady Eagle told the reporters.
As a new addition together with fellow middle blocker Roselyn Doria and Jovelyn Gonzaga, Madayag is not taking the burden of filling in for Santiago’s position alone.
“We’ll still give our best naman tsaka it’s a team effort so kung ano yung gusto ng team yun naman yung lalabas,” she said.
The Choco Mucho star believes that the whole team will work hard to fill in that position as the pool has several talented middle blockers like Philippines skipper Aby Maraño, Mika Reyes and Majoy Baron.
“Doon naman sa filling in kay Jaja marami din kaming gitna sa roster e,” the reigning UAAP 2nd Best Middle Blocker stressed. “We’re gonna train harder for the spot of Jaja to fill it in and we’re gonna give our all para sa bayan.”
Amidst all the pressure, Madayag is just happy that she finally gets a chance to represent the country.
“Masaya ako kasi ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng chance na makasali talaga,” she said.
Madayag missed several chances to represent the country as she was underage during her rookie year in the UAAP, suffered an ACL injury in her sophomore season, and decided to focus on Ateneo in her last three playing years.
“Third year, fourth year hanggang paggraduate ako I was committed to Ateneo eh I really couldn’t play for the national team kasi UAAP season,” said the 21-year-old middle blocker.
From the past call-ups, the Davaoeña admitted that she was really willing to serve the country but due to the conflict with the ongoing UAAP season that time, they failed to commit.
“Nung season pa lang tinatanong ako kung interested ako sabi ko, ‘Oo naman bat naman aayaw ako maglaro para sa bayan?’” Madayag shared. “Hindi rin kami nakatryout ni Kat (Tolentino) kasi we had training tsaka may games kami. During the season parang tinatanong talaga ako if I wanted to join sabi ko, ‘oo naman talaga.’ Hindi lang talaga ako available at that time.”
But now that the stars have aligned for Madayag to be part of the national pool, she promises to make the most out of the golden opportunity given to her.
“I’m very glad na sila coach Shaq wanted to get me kasi it’s an opportunity rin as a player na I can grow,” Madayag said.
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