P
PurpleFox
Guest
MANILA — If you’re a UP fan and you’re worried that Kathy Bersola might not recover in time for the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament, worry not as she assures she will be back as long as head coach Jerry Yee will be putting her in the lineup.
Talking to Rivals last weekend when the Lady Maroons took home the Founders’ Cup title, Bersola, who had a massive knee injury in the first round of Season 77, was adamant when she said skipping a season is not an option.
“No, skipping Season 78 is not an option.” the spiker said with conviction.
“Nakapag-decide na din ako na magfi-fifth year ako. Parang sacrifice na ‘yun kasi ayaw talaga ng parents ko dahil gusto nila mag med na ako. Eh pinilit ko lang kasi sayang ‘yung last year,” she added. “So kung hindi pa ako maglaro ngayong 78, sayang naman ang playing year. Mapipilitan na naman ako mag isa pang year.”
Having spent most of the past six months studying in UP Diliman and undergoing rehab at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Complex in Ateneo, the middle blocker has slowly made significant progress in getting full mobility back on her injured knee.
Gladly giving an update, she exclaims, “Tumatalon na ako ulit! Nakatakbo na din ako. Mga two to three months, balik na ako sa team.”
Admitting to feeling fear when she got clearance to go back to jumping, Bersola animatedly shared what the journey to recovery felt like for her initially.
“Merong takot. Lalo na nung pinaka-first na single leg. As in bago ako tumalon ang tagal ko inisip. Dasal muna ako nung unang unang try.” she said wide-eyed.
“Nung una, sobrang awkward ng feeling. As in feeling ko parang jelly pa. Parang may fluids pa sa loob pero okay naman,” added the Season 76 best blocker awardee. “Stable naman na. Pero hindi pa siya natural na feeling sa akin kasi ang tagal kong hindi nagawa. Getting there.”
But if you think sitting out the latter half of the past UAAP season and missing all the off-season tournaments of the Lady Maroons did nothing for Bersola, think again for she believes sitting in the sidelines can be as beneficial to one’s volleyball knowledge as playing inside the court.
“Para sa akin, ‘yung pinaka-magandang natutunan ko while watching is mas nagiging familiar ako sa tendencies ng other players like mga kalaban. Mas nababasa ko ‘yung mga plays nila,” she said. “Ini-imagine ko ako ‘yung nagba-block dun. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ‘yung mental processing ko palagi kahit wala ako dun sa loob.”
And with an influx of blue-chip recruits flocking the Lady Maroons, the race on who will make it to the 14-woman lineup — and more importantly, the starting six — will be tougher than ever.
This, though, will just be one of the many challenges Bersola will face and will surely surpass, if you ask her.
“Sinasabi ko sa mga ka-batch ko na pagbalik ko promise, I will do my best para i-deserve ko ulit ‘yung starting six. Kasi for now, alam ko hindi ko pa ‘yun deserve kasi sila ‘yung nagte-training eh.” she humbly explained.
“Sabi rin sa akin ni coach ‘yun. Pagbalik ko titignan niya muna ako kung ako ulit ilalagay niya,” she added. “Sinasabi niya lang lagi na plus daw kung makabalik ako. Kaya naman daw niyang i-train ‘yung mga nandito ngayon pero plus kung nandun ako.”
On UAAP volleyball opening moving to early next year, she closed by joking, “Thankful na lang na na-move ang opening. Pabor na pabor.”
Talking to Rivals last weekend when the Lady Maroons took home the Founders’ Cup title, Bersola, who had a massive knee injury in the first round of Season 77, was adamant when she said skipping a season is not an option.
“No, skipping Season 78 is not an option.” the spiker said with conviction.
“Nakapag-decide na din ako na magfi-fifth year ako. Parang sacrifice na ‘yun kasi ayaw talaga ng parents ko dahil gusto nila mag med na ako. Eh pinilit ko lang kasi sayang ‘yung last year,” she added. “So kung hindi pa ako maglaro ngayong 78, sayang naman ang playing year. Mapipilitan na naman ako mag isa pang year.”
Having spent most of the past six months studying in UP Diliman and undergoing rehab at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Complex in Ateneo, the middle blocker has slowly made significant progress in getting full mobility back on her injured knee.
Gladly giving an update, she exclaims, “Tumatalon na ako ulit! Nakatakbo na din ako. Mga two to three months, balik na ako sa team.”
Admitting to feeling fear when she got clearance to go back to jumping, Bersola animatedly shared what the journey to recovery felt like for her initially.
“Merong takot. Lalo na nung pinaka-first na single leg. As in bago ako tumalon ang tagal ko inisip. Dasal muna ako nung unang unang try.” she said wide-eyed.
“Nung una, sobrang awkward ng feeling. As in feeling ko parang jelly pa. Parang may fluids pa sa loob pero okay naman,” added the Season 76 best blocker awardee. “Stable naman na. Pero hindi pa siya natural na feeling sa akin kasi ang tagal kong hindi nagawa. Getting there.”
But if you think sitting out the latter half of the past UAAP season and missing all the off-season tournaments of the Lady Maroons did nothing for Bersola, think again for she believes sitting in the sidelines can be as beneficial to one’s volleyball knowledge as playing inside the court.
“Para sa akin, ‘yung pinaka-magandang natutunan ko while watching is mas nagiging familiar ako sa tendencies ng other players like mga kalaban. Mas nababasa ko ‘yung mga plays nila,” she said. “Ini-imagine ko ako ‘yung nagba-block dun. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ‘yung mental processing ko palagi kahit wala ako dun sa loob.”
And with an influx of blue-chip recruits flocking the Lady Maroons, the race on who will make it to the 14-woman lineup — and more importantly, the starting six — will be tougher than ever.
This, though, will just be one of the many challenges Bersola will face and will surely surpass, if you ask her.
“Sinasabi ko sa mga ka-batch ko na pagbalik ko promise, I will do my best para i-deserve ko ulit ‘yung starting six. Kasi for now, alam ko hindi ko pa ‘yun deserve kasi sila ‘yung nagte-training eh.” she humbly explained.
“Sabi rin sa akin ni coach ‘yun. Pagbalik ko titignan niya muna ako kung ako ulit ilalagay niya,” she added. “Sinasabi niya lang lagi na plus daw kung makabalik ako. Kaya naman daw niyang i-train ‘yung mga nandito ngayon pero plus kung nandun ako.”
On UAAP volleyball opening moving to early next year, she closed by joking, “Thankful na lang na na-move ang opening. Pabor na pabor.”