Ced Domingo admits she had the best of two worlds in her previous experience as a topnotch volleyball player. She played four years with Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League, then had a memorable stint in Thailand with Nakhon Ratchasima VC, that country's winningest volleyball club.
In both instances, Domingo, now playing with the Akari Chargers, can't help but notice that the two clubs share certain traits that made them champions. Creamline won seven PVL championships, while Nakhon had six in the Thailand League. Maybe it also helped that the two squads were mentored by the highly-decorated Tai Bundit.
READ: Ced Domingo admits whirlwind PVL return quite 'overwhelming'
“Sinwerte lang ako na sobrang lakas din talaga ng teammates ko [sa Thailand] and sobrang hindi rin talaga nagpapatalo — same mentality from my former team Creamline ‘yung level of competitiveness at ‘yung hindi talaga papayag na matatalo.
“Nakita ko yun going to Nakhon [Ratchasima] so parang hindi na rin siya bago sa feeling and parang I felt na I’m in the right team doon,” Domingo said.
‘Who would've thought’ moment
In capturing the 2024 Thailand League title, Domingo joined Jaja Santiago (Japan) and Bryan Bagunas (Taiwan) as the only Filipino players to win overseas league championships.
However, the thought of playing as an import in a volleyball powerhouse nation — let alone winning a championship — hasn’t sunk in for Domingo just yet.
“Sobrang saya. Sabi ko nga sa [Instagram] post ko na parang ano siya sa’kin, ‘who would have thought’ moment siya for me kasi coming doon [sa Thailand], no expectations din eh. Gusto ko lang din talaga ma-experience and lumabas din sa comfort zone ko na kung ano pa ba ‘yung ibubuga ko as a player and as an individual,” said Domingo.
But what she considers to be of equal weight with winning the championship is how her Thailand stint made her become a more mature player and a better person.
“One thing that I’ve really learned coming home from Thailand is ‘yung maturity ko inside the game and as an individual din. ‘Yung composure din kasi [ng players]sa Thailand, grabe rin. ’Yung mga ka-teammate ko dun like Onuma [Sittirak], talagang ‘yung mga legends din ng Thailand.”
Domingo added: “It’s super nice playing alongside them kasi sobrang dami niya talagang naturo sa’kin as a player and I really just can’t wait na ma-apply ‘yung mga natutunan ko sa Thailand here sa Akari.”
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