JRU stint serves as inspiration for Alvarez in new volleyball journey

Shola Alvarez (right) with Alyssa Valdez and a fan on stage during the PVL grand fans day. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Shola Alvarez became the volleyball benchmark for Jose Rizal University when she led it to its first Final Four appearance and became the first Lady Bomber to win the MVP in the NCAA women’s volleyball in Season 93.

The charming hitter, though, is ready to to embark on a new journey in the club level and she plans on using her learnings from her NCAA stint as a motivation when she suits up for Tacloban in the Premier Volleyball League.

“Of course what I did and I didn’t do when I was in JRU serve as a source of motivation,” said Alvarez in Filipino during the grand fans’ day on Friday at TriNoma Activity Center. “It’s like I’m pulling off this inspiration from somewhere else.”

Alvarez, who won her MVP in her fifth year with JRU, unfortunately wasn’t able to lift the Heavy Bombers past the Final Four after they fell to eventual champion Arellano University in straight sets, 25-13, 25-20, 25-17.

And it’s this mix up of honor and heartbreak that Alvarez would bring to the PVL with the Lady Warays.

“I finished my NCAA career with all these achievements so there are expectations for me to perform well,” said Alvarez. “My mindset right now is to become a better player for my club.”

To guide Alvarez in her quest are a couple of seasoned coaches in three-time NCAA champion Obet Javier and Nes Pamilar, who won titles both as a player and as a tactician from the bench.

Alvarez is aware of the achievements of her coaches, with Javier taking up the deputy role and Pamilar being the chief man on the Tacloban bench, and even called them “legends.”

“I’m excited with my career trajectory after playing in college because I have coaches who are almost legends in the sport of volleyball,” said Alvarez. “I’m excited to learn from them especially the things I didn’t learned in college.”