The outpouring of sympathy for injured La Salle women’s volleyball team captain Ara Galang is sincere and indicative of how the players actually respect and feel for each other. Volleyball fans are on the same page on this one, as seen in the endless stream of social media messages of support for the prolific Galang.
Volleyball’s current leadership row may not be exactly a manifestation of the family kind of bonding in the sport. But for the players, there’s a strong unity of kindred spirits despite the competitiveness and all the school rivalries.
In the postgame interview after Ateneo won Game 1 of the finals, team captain Alyssa Valdez stated that the injuries were happening to “quality players” and is quite sad to be occurring at this stage of the UAAP tournament. Valdez was responding as well to the injury of La Salle player Camille Cruz, who accidentally twisted and fell close to the net in the third set.
These volleyball sisterhood or brotherhood ties are borne out of the time when the sport was not as popular as it is today.
Before the Shakey’s V-League, the UAAP and the Super Liga became huge volleyball contexts, players and coaches would quietly play their games in school gyms or the small gym near the Ninoy Aquino Stadium or at the UP Gym in Diliman, Quezon City.
Players knew each other and many former players became assistants or head coaches.
High school games back then also attracted coaches looking for the next phenomenon that would boost their lineups but not in the same way recruitment is done today.
Despite all the spirited school competition, many players would even share rides to go to the venues. Players would even get to know the parents of other players.
All these friendships, however, did not diminish the competitive spirits of the games. Long before television, there were already fierce rivalries like Far Eastern University against University of Santo Tomas, two of the schools with many UAAP titles in both divisions.
Perhaps because a net divided the two competing sides and there was no actual body contact between players, volleyball did not arouse the same anxiety and agitation.
The game also had its decorum: Despite its American origin, the sport was infused with so many Japanese touches like restrained complaining and bowing before opponents and their coaches. Volleyball was first played in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the Japanese are credited with many tournament and technical innovations.
So there’s no sense reading into volleyball players when they talk among themselves and salute rivals and feel awful when injuries happen. It’s not really due to sportsmanship alone but more so because of the traditions of the game that have been passed on from generation to generation.
No one wants to see injuries happen to athletes in any sport. When they surprise us, injuries are an awful reminder of the difficult life of the athlete who is left exposed to harm and pain even as they strive for glory. They also remind us that a sport can still be played at the highest level without sacrificing goodwill and sportsmanship.