On The Other Side

Prologue

#OTOSwp

Motivation

Self-confidence

Perseverance

Concentration

Inhale, exhale

Shuta, bakit iba 'yung kaba ko ngayon? I've been playing since high school, alam na alam ko na ang kalakaran pero bakit kung kailan 3rd year na ako saka pa ako kakabahan nang ganito?

"Zoe, you don't look good," sabi ni Coach Rick. Agad akong ngumiti at nag-start mag-stretch baka kasi kapag nakita niyang masyado akong kinakabahan ay baka i-bangko niya ako, never pa naman 'yon nangyari sa start ng game, na babangko lang ako kapag kalagitnaan na para makapagpahinga kahit sandali pero lagi akong kasama sa first set of players.

"Don't over think, just be your usual self." Tumango ako. Nanood na lang ako ng kung anu-anong video na lumabas sa facebook timeline ko para mawala sa laro ang isip ko, inaantay pa kasi namin matapos ang unang game sa araw na 'to which is finals ng men's volleyball. Laglag na kami doon, laglag din ang Ridgeview na kalaban namin ngayon.

"Patapos na 'yung game, mag-ready na kayo," sabi ng captain namin na si Ate Kira. Bumalik na ang kaba na nararamdaman ko. Shinake-shake ko ang kamay ko at tumalon-talon nang kaunti bago huminga nang malalim.

Tinapik ni Yayan ang balikat ko. "'Wag mo masyado isipin kung sino kalaban, maglaro ka lang nang normal."

Siguro nga, in-denial lang ako na hindi ako kinakabahan dahil sa kalaban pero sa totoo lang, iyon nga siguro talaga ang dahilan.

We won against Ridgeview University last year pero sobrang lapit lang ng scores at halos sumuko na ang mga ka-team ko kasi ang dali nilang nababawi ang bawat score.

Thankfully, nagka-service error sila and that's why we earned the last point. Kinakabahan na ako sobra no'ng mga panahon na 'yon pero I really tried na i-kalma ang sarili ko dahil for sure kapag nag-panic kaming lahat, matatalo kami.

They're awfully good pero hindi namin sila nakalaban no'ng first year kasi laglag sila kaya hindi talaga inaasahan ang nangyari last year and now, sila ulit ang kalaban.

Puno ang arena.

Last year was a really good and intense game, kaya no'ng nakitang kami ulit ang magkalaban ng finals marami ang bumili ng ticket.

Hindi rin in-expect ng organizers na ganito karami ang a-attend ng laro, last year kasi sakto lang kasi hindi naman talaga inaasahan ang biglang pagpasok ng Ridgeview sa finals but they gave a good game kaya ayan, napuno namin ang arena.

Best of five each game ang finals and 2 games lang dapat but since we got the first game and RVU got the second, we're up to 3rd game.

Nag-sign of the cross na ako before we went out and do our warm up. I did some spike routines but didn't waste too much energy for it.

I observed the whole arena.

Maingay, rinig na agad ang drums kasabay ng hiyawan, idagdag pa ang mga courtside reporter.

Noong first year ako, kabado ako makakita ng mga courtside reporter kasama na ang mga camera man sa tapat nila. Hindi ko naman in-e-expect na ma-i-interview ako agad ng first year pa lang ako, sadiyang nakakakaba isipin na mapapanood sa TV ang laro.

Pero dahil rookie of the year ako no'ng first year, na-interview ako. Ni-hindi ko rin alam kung may sense ang sinabi ko noon, sobrang bilis ng mga pangyayari. Hindi ko na rin maalala ang sinabi ko noong araw na iyon at ayoko na rin panoorin para maalala ko.

Coach instructs us a few things at bago pa ako ipakilala ay tinapik niya ang balikat ko. "Don't be too stiff," paalala niya sa akin bago binanggit na ang pangalan ko.

"Wearing jersey number 7, Maria Zoella Santiaguel." Grabe ang hiyawan pero para akong nabibingi, wala ako gaano marinig.

I saw familiar faces, pero may mga ibang wala na rin since grumaduate na but RVU's first years shouldn't be underestimated. Last year, 'yung mga first year na second year na nila ngayon 'yung halos pumuntos noon. They are someone to look out for.

When the pre-game rituals ended, it's officially start of the game. I'm placed in the front row for this rotation since I'm a middle blocker.

The game started with a service ace from us, which kinda let me breath in ease.

RVU have good attackers, I always have to think twice or more when I'm blocking them. I almost end up frustrated last year na gusto ko na lang magpa-gulong-gulong sa court buti na lang I worked that up, and for the past two games for finals hindi na ako masyado na-frustrate sa kanila.

Because of their good attackers, we strengthen our floor defense even more. Lalo na sa libero, their speed and agility should be improved na kahit saan pa 'yang bola na 'yan kailangan mo paangatin. Imposible naman na palagi nilang makukuha, but at least they should receive a lot.

This game deserve the "final" as its title. I was breathing so fast, I could feel my legs tightening from all the jumping and diving I did.

It's already the 3rd set and it's 24-25, in favor of them. Match point na nila, abot-abot na ang kaba ko, I can't let that ball drop here in our territory.

I'm about to serve, I was mumbling some prayer, I just can't lose now.

Not now, not ever.

I started dribbling the ball and let a quick spin before I positioned. As I heard the whistle, I breathed deeply.

Powerful but controlled.

My serve was good, but not good enough to have a service ace and earn us a point.

The rally was really long but it's fine as long as we keep the ball up. I was anticipating a strong attack from them, I keep my eye on their spikers.

But I eneded up seeing the ball dropped in front of me.

It was sharp.

Hindi ako makagalaw.

Halos mabingi ako sa sigawan, especially from their side.

They won.

I lost.

Natalo dahil sa akin.

Bakit hindi ko nakuha iyon?

It was right in front of me?!

Ate Kira tapped my back, doon lang ako naibalik sa katotohanan.

Nakita kong nanunubig ang mga mata ni Ate Kira. It's her last year at natalo kami.

Ang sakit no'n.

Niyakap ko siya at nagsorry ako nang nagsorry, but she consoled me.

Kasalanan ko 'to, maybe I overthinked kaya hindi ko napansin iyong bola.

"Bawiin mo next year," bulong ni Ate Kira before going to our other teammates.

I wanted to cry pero ayokong ipakita na sa ganiyan karaming tao na iiyak ako.

All throughout our school's hymn pinipigilan ko ang iyak ko.

Losing is really painful but is normal, but your team losing because of you is another story.

___

If I used some terms the wrong way feel free to message me :)