Alyssa Valdez. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Filipinos usually use the Holy Week to rest and reflect and it’s no different for the volleyball stars of the UAAP.
Their lives as student-athletes are not simple walks in their university campuses and the Lenten season gives them that much-needed break from their UAAP and schoolwork grind.
Golden Tigresses head coach Kung Fu Reyes will give his players a break from Thursday until Saturday so they, him included, can look back and reflect on their Catholic beliefs.
“Mag reflect naman kami, mag prusisyon, practice naman natin Catholic beliefs natin,” Reyes said whose team sits with a 5-6 record. “Yung iba uuwi ng probinsiya, tapos yung iba nandito lang sa mga karatig probinsiya.”
Reyes, who hails from Lucena, Quezon, plans to travel back to his home province.
De La Salle seniors Mika Reyes will take the opportunity to go back to their provinces for their three-day break.
Reyes will go back to Bulacan and observe traditional fasting that comes with the earthly death of Jesus Christ.
“May fasting, tapos hindi kami kakain ng meat and then church,” Reyes said whose team . “Kasi I usually rest kapag Holy Week, pahinga lang din for the upcoming games.”
Galang, meanwhile, will go visit her hometown of Pampanga.
Alyssa Valdez and her Lady Eagles will likely stay at their Ateneo campus from Maundy Thursday until Good Friday to train.
“Training pa rin,” Valdez said whose team wants to stay atop the league with a 9-2 record. “Haba pa eh, may Adamson, UE [University of the East], at La Salle pa, we really have to sacrifice para mas maganda.”
“Sana worth it ang sacrifices.”