CHOCO Mucho rookie Lorraine Pecaña is proof that a dream delayed won’t ever be a dream denied.
Filling in for Japan-bound Maddie Madayag brought out the best in the PVL Draft’s 11th overall pick, as her seven-block output over Galeries Tower was the most by any rookie yet.
READ: Embattled Choco Mucho out to rise above challenges
But behind such a brave breakout performance - the first of many for Pecaña - is the story of a late bloomer who seized her one and only chance to blaze her trail in the big leagues.
Big hopes for small-town girl
The 23-year-old middle blocker had her first serve back in Grade 12 at the tail-end of her senior high years.
A stroke of luck came her way when Arellano head coach Obet Javier took notice of her 5-foot-11 stature in a scouting trip to her hometown of Pililla, Rizal.
Javier saw promise that a young Pecaña herself couldn't believe at the time.
“Wala po talagang ibang [nag-offer sa’kin]. Hindi naman sa wala, pero siguro kasi, maliit lang ‘yung mundo ko kaya nu’ng kinuha ako ng Arellano, grinab ko po siya,” Pecaña shared with SPIN.ph.
Surreal as it might’ve been for a probinsyana like her to move to Manila, the gamble of pursuing a volleyball career amid all the unknowns was one she took for her family.
“Nakita nila na matangkad ako at naisip siguro na may potential. Ako, nu’ng una po, kinakabahan ako kasi konti lang ‘yung IQ ko sa volleyball tapos Manila pa, eh batang probinsya ako,” the now-Flying Titans rookie said.
“Sa tulong din nila mama, ni papa kaya pinush ko mag-college sa Manila kasi ang laking opportunity rin para sa’kin.”
Pecana’s life-changing night
As her college career came to a close, then came her biggest break yet upon throwing her name in the mix in the PVL’s first-ever Rookie Draft.
And out of four NCAA standouts chosen on draft night, only Pecaña ended up a first-rounder as the Choco Mucho's lone selection.
Prior to the event, though, she didn't even plan on attending under the assumption that no PVL team was interested in her.
That's exactly why hearing her name called by a team of such stature in the pros left the Rizaleño ace in disbelief as she walked up to the draft stage.
At the end of it all, however, Pecaña’s destiny proved bigger than all and any doubts she ever had on herself.
“Nu’ng drafting, wala talaga akong idea na mayroong kukuha sa’kin. Wala nga po akong balak na pumunta."
Pecaña furthered, “Tapos parang si God na ‘yung nagbigay ng rason para tumuloy ako. Kasi nu’ng time na po ‘yun, parang nagda-doubt ako, pero may nag-push talaga sa’kin na pumunta.”
Never too late to dream
In a time when Pecaña had more questions than answers on where her aspirations would take her, it was always the trust of those around her that kept a skeptic dreamer like her going.
It wasn’t any different once she wore the Flying Titans' famed purple-and-blacks for the first time.
Her biggest question in life was always ‘why.’ But now, the answer’s much clearer.
As the newest Flying Titan puts it, “‘Yung tiwala po talaga ng mga coaches at teammates ko kahit baguhan ka, ang laki po ng nagiging tulong nu’n para sa akin.
“Pati po mga kapitbahay, Arellano community, grabe po sila, ‘yung support nila na ibinibigay sa’kin kaya bakit po ako magda-doubt sa sarili ko? Bakit hindi ko ibibigay ‘yung all-out ko?”
Pecaña’s story isn’t just about sacrifice and hope. More than anything, it is also one of defiance, as she proved not only to herself, but to everyone else that it won’t ever be too late to catch one’s dream ride.
“Nag-start ako ng Grade 12. Parang late na siya, pero pinu-push ko ‘yung sarili ko kasi mahal ko ‘yung volleyball," she shared.
“Alam ko na kung kaya ng iba, kung mas matagal ‘yung duration nila ng paglalaro, paano pa ‘yung late bloomer lang na kaya ring makipagsabayan sa kanila?”
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