FIFI Sharma almost wasn’t the PVL and Alas Pilipinas star she is today, should she have chosen to follow her dad and ex-PBA player Carlo Sharma’s footsteps into basketball.
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Both UAAP champions with La Salle, the athletic 6-foot-6 father and 5-foot-10 daughter possess the height to thrive in either basketball or volleyball. In fact, Fifi even gave basketball a try before she set foot on a volleyball taraflex.
The thing is, she knew after just her first try that she wasn’t cut out for the hardcourt like her dad was.
“Naturally, since matangkad ako and medyo athletic, I gravitated towards sports,” Fifi shared with SPIN.ph.
“I did try basketball, pero I found that I don't like contact sports. I hate it. Sobrang ayaw ko. After I played one game, I quit because I didn't like contact sports.”
On the other hand, volleyball felt like home straight away for Fifi. And her dad Carlo, who played for seven PBA teams in his 11-year career, couldn’t have been prouder to see his daughter follow her heart’s own desires.
“I tried volleyball kasi it was the more quote-unquote feminine sport that time. Ever since then, nag-enjoy na rin ako eventually. And my dad still plays a big role sa career ko kahit hindi kami same ng sport,” Fifi said.
“He didn't convince me naman to join any sport. He just encouraged me to do whatever I wanted to do or whatever my heart speaks to.”
Among all the words of wisdom his dad has given her through the years, one has stood out the most: being her own person wherever the sport takes her.
“Pinakana-appreciate ko sa kanya is sinabi ng dad ko to not care about what other people think about me. ‘Wag ako masyadong maapektuhan sa opinions nila,” Fifi said.
“They don't know what I go through every day. They don't know the hardships I went through and they don't walk in my shoes. They don't live my life. So why should they have a say in my life? Sabi niya lang sa akin na to be who I am and to just enjoy.”
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