JOSHUA Retamar poured his heart and soul into his illustrious UAAP men’s volleyball career.
As he prepares to depart from the university that molded him into the player he is today, Retamar's ultimate goal for the Bulldogs remains clear: to reciprocate the unwavering support and trust that National University has always shown him.
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Just a day after the Bulldogs secured their ninth consecutive trip to the UAAP Finals, Retamar achieved another significant milestone by graduating from NU with a degree in Financial Management.
With his 24 excellent sets guiding the team to a series-opening victory in the Finals against the University of Sto. Tomas, Retamar's heart swelled with pride and gratitude as he reflected on the unwavering support he received from NU, both on and off the court.
This support not only enabled him to excel in volleyball but also empowered him to fulfill his dream of graduating and making his parents proud. Now that he has achieved this milestone, Retamar is determined to repay NU's generosity by delivering one last championship as a Bulldog, cementing his legacy at the school that turned his aspirations into reality.
“Kakagraduate ko lang. ‘yun kasi yung dream ko talaga para sa magulang ko. Ngayon naman, ‘yung pagkapanalo namin and ‘yung championship, inaalay ko talaga para sa school — yung scholarships na binibigay sa’min, para sa team namin, ‘yung budget na inaallot sa’min. Dito namin ipapakita at ibabalik sa kanila ‘yung mga binibigay nila sa’min,” said Retamar.
And if sacrificing a significant portion of his time is what it will take to conclude his UAAP career on a high note, then it's a commitment he is more than prepared to embrace.
“Willing akong isacrifice yung time kong magpahinga and yung time ko para gumala. Siyempre dapat nagccelebrate na ko ngayon dahil graduate ako pero mas pinipili ko ‘yung team kasi may gusto kaming iwan para sa kanila, para sa susunod na UAAP,” he said.
Repaying unconditional trust
Even after a stellar performance in the championship series, the reigning UAAP Finals MVP has no intention of resting on the Bulldogs' laurels. He understands that the task is far from over and remains fully focused on finishing the job at hand.
“Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na ‘di pa tayo champion, ‘di pa natin nakukuha ‘yung goal natin, ‘di pa tayo pwedeng mag-relax. Kailangang gawin pa rin natin ‘yung best natin kasi hindi porket nanalo kami ng Game 1, kami na ‘yung champion eh.
“Lalaban at lalaban pa rin ‘yung UST. Kung anuman ‘yung mangyari, all out pa rin talaga,” said Retamar.
As Retamar nears the conclusion of his college journey, he took a moment to honor the individual who has been with him every step of the way in the UAAP, semi-pros, and the national team—none other than his longtime head coach, Dante Alinsunurin.
Retamar treasures the trust that Alinsunurin has placed in him throughout the years and various tournaments, and he hopes to maintain that trust for years to come.
“Si Coach Dante (Alinsunurin), nagtiwala talaga ako sa kanya simula first year ko hanggang napunta ako sa national team. ‘Yung nagtiwala siya sa’kin, ayun ‘yung pinaka-ayaw kong mawala, ‘yung tiwala niya sa’kin,” Retamar said.
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