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MANILA, Philippines – There are two sides to Aby Maraño – the off-court charmer and the on-court glamazon.
But on Saturday, March 8, with the sting of their first loss in two years still smarting, the team captain of 3-time defending champions De La Salle Lady Spikers was all business and all glamazon against rivals Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles.
Maraño, playing in her final year, was simply unstoppable on the court, especially in the fourth set, where she was so pumped up that nearly everything she did with the ball turned into a point for her squad.
“Iba yung personality ko kapag nasa loob ako ng court eh,” she explained to a handful of media right after the game. “Sa personal of course I’m sweet and girly ako. Pero nag-iiba talaga.” (My personality is different when I’m inside the court. In person of course I’m sweet and I’m girly. But it really changes.)
She described the change in her personality perfectly.
“Yung mindset ko, once nakatapak ako sa loob ng court, hindi ako babae. Lalaki ako.” (My mindset, once I set foot on the court, is I am not a girl. I am a man.)
The 5-foot-9 middle hitter out of Don Antonio de Zuzuarregui Sr. Memorial Academy was suddenly overcome with emotion in the thick of the fourth set, after the Lady Spikers dropped Set 3, giving Ateneo a window of opportunity to possibly extend the match to a deciding fifth set. Buoyed by the crowd clad in green, Maraño kept asking for the ball wanting to make a kill to extinguish Ateneo’s momentum.
Fueled by her desire to bounce back from their Game 1 loss, which effectively broke their 30-game win streak dating back to last season, Maraño displayed true leadership on the floor as she energized the rest of her teammates with every hit she sent straight to the opponent’s floor.
“Pinapanindigan ko yung pagiging atleta,” explained the 22-year old. “Hindi ka nagpapaganda sa loob ng court. Hindi mo kailangan magpa-charm or or whatsoever.” (I am living up to my being an athlete. You’re not trying to look beautiful inside the court. You don’t need to be charming or whatsoever.)
Her leadership and passion resulted to 4-set win over the Lady Eagles, moving La Salle only a win away from their fourth straight title.
One final legacy
While winning 3 straight championships is already a tremendous feat in itself, Maraño is at the cusp of leaving one final legacy to her alma mater.
Before she graduates, Maraño is dead set on making history and capping off a decorated college career by hoisting La Salle’s fourth consecutive UAAP Women’s Volleyball trophy – a feat that has never been done since the 1969-1973 4-peat of Far Eastern University.
“Hindi ako papayag na ga-graduate ako ng walang mararating at hindi ako papayag na yung 5 years ko matatapon lang sa wala,” she said still oozing of determination when she emerged from the locker room. “Hindi ako papayag. Focused ako.”
(I refuse to graduate without achieving anything and I refuse to allow my 5 years to go to waste. I won’t allow it. I’m focused.)
Even their uncharacteristic Game 1 performance and the criticism they have received hasn’t deterred her from achieving her goal.
“Bakit kami mahihiya? Eh nangyari na yun eh. Panindigan mo. Mag-confess ka na nagkamali ka,” she said about their first loss in a long time. “May mga araw talaga na hindi ganyan ang performance ng isang manlalaro. Dumadating yung off game.”
(Why would we be ashamed? It happened. Stand by it. Admit you made a mistake. There are days that a player won’t play well. Off games come.)
As the Lady Spikers quickly returned to their winning ways, Maraño was much more relaxed and very accommodating after the match, revealing more of her laid back and friendly personality.
But she made it clear she is in no way relaxed about Game 3 happening on Wednesday, March 12, where La Salle could put away Ateneo for the third straight year and win it all again.
“Hindi kami papayag sa Wednesday na hindi namin mas gustong manalo. Dahil sa Wednesday, gusto namin matapos,” she spoke with a certain gleam in her eyes. “Tratrabahuhin namin yun.” (We won’t allow ourselves to not want it more on Wednesday. We want to finish this on Wednesday. We will work for that.) – Rappler.com
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