JUST as teams started passing on their picks one-by-one, the inaugural Premier Volleyball League (PVL) draft saved its most memorable moment for last.
With the 23rd and final pick of the night, Galeries Tower made their fourth selection and with it, little known 5-foot-6 opposite spiker Danivah Aying was called up to the stage.
Applause then filled the halls of Novotel Hotel, with PVL team officials, players and draftees alike cheering on as they witnessed the only provincial talent not from a UAAP or NCAA school reach her dreams before their very eyes.
Still in a visible state of shock, the University of San Jose-Recoletos star couldn’t even fight her tears as she reflected on her selection after entering the draft with zero expectations.
“Super overwhelming po siya para sa akin kasi nga, zero expectations po talaga ako. Di ko inexpect na mada-draft talaga ako,” Aying said.
“Parang sabi ko na lang, sana lang mabigyan ako ng opportunity. Wala, wala po talaga akong hinahangad na makamit dito. Pero thank you po sa Galeries na binigyan ako ng chance at opportunity.”
Disproving notions, breaking grounds
Hailing all the way from Cebu, Aying found a temporary place to stay in Mandaluyong with the help of her parents, where she spent the last few weeks as a single bedspacer in the lead-up to draft night.
Now, she’d have to find a permanent address in the Metro, cause she’ll be staying here for good – this time as a professional volleyball player for Galeries Tower.
What makes this extra-special for her is disproving the notion that players who went to college outside of Metro Manila won’t have a chance of breaking into the fast-rising professional league.
Instead of being discouraged, Aying used it to fuel her dream of turning pro and being a living proof that the formula to success comes from the weight of one’s passion and hardwork, not from where one comes from.
“Matagal ko nang pangarap pumunta ng Manila, tapos ngayon lang nabigyan ng chance. Also, parang naging push ko na rin yung mga down comments ng mga ibang tao na 'Ay from Cebu lang yan.' Parang naging stepping stone siya para sa’kin,” she stated.
“‘Di naman ibig sabihin na porket di ako from UAAP o NCAA, ‘di na pwedeng mag-apply sa draft. Wala namang requirement na kailangan ka from NCAA o UAAP.”
And her advice to fellow province-based volleyball players like her who dreams to make it big one day is as simple yet meaningful as can be — never give up.
“Kung pangarap mo, mag-try ka lang talaga, kasi wala namang mawawala kung mag-try ka. As long as andiyan yung perseverance mo, andiyan yung fire sa loob mo na gusto mo talagang makamit yung pangarap mo, go lang. Wala namang limitations diyan eh.”
Leap of faith, again and again
Similar to how she took a risk in the PVL Draft, Aying’s volleyball journey began the same way — a playful gambit that turned out to be the move that’ll change the course of her life forever.
“Grade 9 ako, nasa 14 to 15 years old nung nag-try out ako sa school ko, sa USJ-R, talagang try lang din, zero expectations lang din ako tapos na-shock na lang ako na naging part ako ng lineup hanggang sa pinagpatuloy ko na,” she shared.
She even wanted to stop playing volleyball for good at one point, but fate had other plans.
“May part na hihinto na sana ako ng volleyball, pero di ako pinayagan, kaya pinagpatuloy ko na lang hanggang sa talagang na-in love na rin ako sa volleyball. Pinangarap ko na rin mag-Manila, pinangarap ko na rin mag-PVL.”
And for her, the dream doesn’t end by being in the PVL.
She’d seen how fellow Cebuanas in Sisi Rondina and Grethcel Soltones once dreamt, and became the stars that they were just wishing to become.
Like them she plans to write her own tale, as she blazes her own trail to stardom.
“Parang inspiration talaga rin po sila, na kaya nga nila pumunta rito, at kaya nilang maging star ng team nila. Why not hindi ko rin i-try sa sarili ko na abutin din ‘yun?”
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.
