ROMA Doromal penned her last goodbye to Ateneo five years since entering her dream school.
“I am Roma Mae Doromal, wearing jersey number 19, your S86 captain with a strong mind. Now signing off,” she said on Instagram.
The Blue Eagles’ UAAP Season 86 libero-captain wrote her parting note to the Katipunan side through a social media post on Wednesday afternoon — one which carried a reflection on how a once-improbable dream came true in the hues of white and blue.
READ: Roma Doromal proud to pave road for Ateneo rebuild in farewell season
“It all started as a dream, a dream that I thought I would never reach. Coming out of high school, I wasn’t the player whom the schools would run after. I was even in the last list of people to be chosen for the lineup. But, my desire to play for my dream school was stronger than all my doubts," she said.
“I bravely went through the process and tried out for the Ateneo women’s volleyball team trusting God... It’s quite difficult to be admitted in Ateneo, but by God’s grace, I was chosen.”
Through Ateneo’s highs and lows
Doromal made her Ateneo debut in Season 82 for both indoor and beach volleyball teams.
Her first year was rather bittersweet, as after winning bronze in beach volleyball, she also experienced the pandemic-halted women’s volleyball tournament.
Once normalcy returned, Doromal then helped the Blue Eagles' launch their rebuild en route to a 4-10 record.
“Surviving bubble training and a S84 run with my teammates on my side despite the unique challenges that it (entailed), I am grateful... to have a podium finish," she said.
“S85, a season full of heartbreak, but that made us stronger. So I decided to stay and help the team, the management, my teammates and the high school Roma Mae whose dream is to play in the UAAP.”
‘Kahit mahirap na maniwala, just keep on believing’
Her captaincy in Season 86 - which turned out to be her last year as well - finished just a spot shy of the Final Four, with Ateneo registering a 5-9 standing under new head coach Sergio Veloso.
Although her contributions may not have reflected on the scores themselves, Doromal is still proud to have led the school and squad that made her biggest dreams come true.
“As a libero-captain, I may not be able to contribute to the scoreboard with points, but supporting my teammates with their roles and purpose in and out of the court gives me joy to be used as God’s instrument of helping them be all that they can be," she expressed.
“Kahit mahirap na maniwala, just keep on believing. Kahit ang labo na, trust God that He is for You. Thank you, Ateneo. I wouldn’t be the person that I am now if not for you giving me a chance to live out my dream. For being my home for the past five years, you will forever be my home. I am proud to be an Atenean and (that) will live on forever.”
Doromal is set to turn pro, but has yet to bare the specifics on whether she'll be joining the inaugural Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Draft in July.
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