One Sided Love

OSL-XIV

Aly's POV

Bilang na sa daliri 'yung natitirang games this season. That also means I will be leaving the UAAP soon.

Five years.

Five years of living a student-athlete life.

Five years of hard trainings.

Five years of happiness and sadness inside Ateneo.

Five years of living around the campus.

Five years of spending my hours only for volleyball and schoolworks and a little bit of social life.

I wanted to enumerate all happenings of my life na ginugol ko dito sa Ateneo pero baka abutin din ako ng five years.

Lahat sila tinatanong, why Ateneo? I came from UST bakit di ko na lang dun tinuloy yung college ko.

It was a very tough choice. I love UST and it's not easy to leave the school. But, I also wanted to pursue my dream. A dream that everyone is dreaming.

Ateneo, who wouldn't want to study here right? Dream school to ng karamihan eh. And I am one of those. I dreamt of being here. Although, I feel contented sa UST, but 'yung opportunity na yung lumapit sa akin. I can't let go of it.

I took the opportunity to study here. Maraming kailangan i-consider. But, it was all worth it, the risks. All of it. Hindi ko pinagsisihan yung decision ko to study here.

Today, we will be facing our rivals again, for the second time around.

Natalo kami nung first round. Babawi kami this time! What happened in the past stays in the past.

The last day of eliminations. Yes, sure na may twice-to-beat advantage kami pero we don't want to end our elimination with a loss. We need to enter the semis with a win para mas okay. Pero, whatever will happen later sa game ibibigay lang namin yung best namin. I told my teammates na kalimutan na yung mga nangyari nung first round and focus lang.

Sinalubong kami ng tilian ng punong-puno na MOA Arena. We kinda expect this crowd. Sanayan lang yan and pinaalalahanan ko na rin yung teammates ko to stay composed and wag magpapaapekto sa unnecessary noises.

Nagwawarm up lang kami and we're just having fun.

Maya't maya'y nagstart na rin yung game. The game started very well. Maganda yung mga palitan pero naungusan kami ng La Salle and they are now at set point. But, I huddled my teammates and told them that this is not yet over. And, we scored. Amy is serving and while she's in the back we scored back-to-back-to-back points. Nag-time out yung la salle and Amy is still doing well in her services. But, masyadong malaki yung lamang ng La Salle but at least we tried.

Our momentum continued until the second set. Katulad nung first set maganda rin yung umpisa pero nung dulo medyo lumamang na ulit yung La Salle.

"Let's go girls. Receive lang tayo. And isa-isa lang." -paalala ko sa kanila.

Nakahabol kami and we got the set.

"Good job girls! Ipagpatuloy niyo yan hanggang third set. Just get a good receive and Jia make a good choice as possible. Let's win this girls." -coach parley motivates everyone

"Happy! Happy! Heartstrong! Focus. Meditate!" -coach Tai said. Even though coach Tai only say few words we totally get it. We have this connection to him that makes communication easier with him.

Umupo muna kami and nagmeditate saglit. We entered the third set with the same energy level and we got it again.

The fourth set was crucial and it goes to La Salle.