MANILA – While the cancellation of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 83 came as a surprise for several collegiate athletes, Iloilo-based volleyball players Marianne Sotomil and Noy Pedrosa of the University of the Philippines saw it as something that is cast on stone.
According to Sotomil, while she already expected the cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic, she was saddened as some of the UP players will not be returning when the UAAP resumes.
“Siguro, for me, expected na ang cancellation ng UAAP Season 83. Pero wala ka gid nag expect last time na para sa ibang UP players na makalaro sa UAAP,” the Pavia, Iloilo-native told Sports LANG podcast.
“May mga ibang UP players na ‘di na mag-continue sa kanilang playing years since ‘yung iba sa kanila ay nag-graduate na,” added the former Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts standout.
While it was also disappointing that all the hardwork they put in since last year were wasted after the cancellation of UAAP Season 82 earlier this year, Sotomil sees the pandemic situation as a breather after years of being a student-athlete.
“Since almost half of my life ay naging student-athlete ako, from high school I was away from my family since I was playing in Bacolod and college sa UP. Nawalan ako ng time sa family but with this pandemic, nakabawi ako,” she added.
Meanwhile, Pedrosa shared the sentiment of Sotomil as he was disappointed with the abrupt end of his rookie season with the UP men’s volleyball team and will have to wait until early 2022 to play anew.
“‘Yung mga pinaghirapan namin ay nasayang lahat but we just have to move forward,” Pedrosa said. “For me kasi hindi rin magiging effective ‘yung bubble format since not all students from UP can support or watch us.”
Earlier this month, the UAAP Board announced the cancellation of the entire Season 83 originally scheduled in April 2021 and will instead proceed with the Season 84 tentatively slated in September 2021./PN
