BACOLOD City – With her high school career likely over due to the possible absence of the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet this year, Bacolodnon middle blocker Joan Marie Monares is now looking forward to suit up for the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
The Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts standout said that she is excited and nervous at the same time to don the UP colors but vowed to make most of the opportunities given to her.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity,” the 18-year-old Monares said. “Being able to play and study in UP is huge for me. It is a well-known university and many are aspiring to be part of this university.”
“Honestly, kabado ako and pressured kasi madaming tao ang nag-eexpect sa akin, but at the same time, I am happy kasi it is a big stepping stone for me to achieve my goals,” she added.
Monares also revealed that one of the factors on her decision to commit her services to the Lady Maroons was because of its head coach Godfrey Okumu. He was keen on bringing the Bacolodnon to UP since she was in the 10th Grade.
“Coach Okumu is one of the reasons why I chose UP. It is not only because he can teach me so much about playing volleyball. I know that I can learn a lot from him and that he will train me to be a better player than I was before,” Monares said.
“He’s been eyeing me since when I was in grade 10. He believes that I am a good player and naniniwala sya na I can do more,” she added. “It is still quite unbelievable because I never thought that I will go this far, that I will be able to play in Manila.”
Monares, however, is aware that moving to the Lady Maroons will just be the start of the new challenge in her career. She has to put twice the amount of her work to become part of Okumu’s lineup for next year’s UAAP women’s volleyball action.
“I would love to help the UP Lady Maroons in any ways that I could but, as for now, I think the least that I can do is to train well to be a deserving player in the lineup and I wish nothing but the best for UP,” she said./PN
