AGE may just be a number, but it does have its fair share of scintillating manifestations as one grows older — more so for competitive athletes in any sport.
At 31 years old, newly-minted Chery Tiggo skipper Aby Maraño had herself a 'reality check' moment after going toe-to-toe with the young guns of College of St. Benilde in the 2024 PNVF Champions League on Tuesday.
The match ended well in favor of Maraño's Crossovers side, but the win didn't come easy by any stretch in the wiry four-set battle.
READ: Paat-led Chery Tiggo makes experience count in PNVF win over Benilde
But one thing that impressed her the most about the up-and-coming NCAA champion squad is its players' relentlessness and glaring determination for every point in every play at all costs.
"Ang pinaka-takeaway ko lang sa game na ‘to, walang umaayaw [sa mga bata]. Regardless kung mahina ‘yung palo namin or binabaon namin ‘yung palo namin, ‘yung mga bata hangga’t hindi namamatay ‘yung bola, walang titigil," the Crossovers captain said.
"Ang daming bola na makukuha nila pero parang hindi na nila mare-retrieve. Magugulat kami may sumisingit pa rin na sambot, so nakikita mo talaga ‘yung aggressiveness eh," she added.
Race against time
In giving due credit to the Benilde crew's raw talent and sharp display, Maraño also kept it real on how time is slowly catching up on veteran players like her and how such an inevitable emergence of young talent prompts her to raise the bar even higher for herself and for the better.
"Kasi kami, mostly sa’min, hindi na ganu’n kaliksi kasi siyempre ang body naman natin, speaks for yourself din. So sometimes, pagalingan lang talaga kaming pumwesto, mag-basa ganyan. ‘Yung mga bata, wala, dive for the ball. Talagang dive kung dive, habol kung habol, walang humihinto," said Maraño.
"Siguro ‘yan ‘yung kailangan din naming ma-adapt sa sarili namin kasi sa tagal ng panahon na naglalaro kami ng volleyball, ‘di ba parang sa work mo, parang ‘ito na naman, ito na na naman.’
"Minsan may mga nakakaligtaan kaming mga small details, at ‘yung mga small details na ‘yun na wala sa amin ay nandu’n sa mga bata sa CSB which is very good. Na-challenge talaga kami nang malala," she added.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
