MANILA, Philippines—It has been a whirlwind of a collegiate career for Rica Rivera.
In her five years with University of Santo Tomas, Rivera reached the pinnacle of her career when she won two UAAP beach volleyball titles but suffered through a couple of anterior cruciate ligament injuries that slowed her down.
Rivera’s fifth year with the Golden Tigresses also had its ups and downs when she initially spent much of the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament riding the bench before getting back to her starting position.
And entering her first finals appearance in the indoor volleyball circuit, Rivera knows she finally defeated the demons that haunted her in the early part of her career.
“I’m happy because this is my redemption year and I know I redeemed myself and somehow my road to recovery wasn’t that easy because of the injuries and a lot of heartaches last year,” said Rivera.
After recovering from two knee surgeries, Rivera returned to the Golden Tigresses’ lineup in Season 80 but had a dismal season and failed to crack the Best Diggers and Best Receivers list with UST finishing the year at 4-10 for the no.7 spot.
Rivera’s fortunes did not immediately turn around at the start of Season 81 with UST head coach Kung Fu Reyes opting for rookie libero Janel Delerio to start most of the games.
“I didn’t have a great start this year and now I finally recovered from it, I’m starting to get back up,” said Rivera who closed out the elimination for UST playing stellar volleyball in two straight games against La Salle en route to the finals.
“This is my final year, I’m a senior, my mindset now is I won’t have another chance at this.”
Rivera closed out the playoff for the no.2 spot against the Lady Spikers with 11 excellent digs in two sets helping UST to the 25-14, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19.
After starting the game at the bench in the no.2 playoff, Rivera was given the starting nod in the Final Four and she rewarded Reyes with 21 excellent digs and 21 successful receptions in UST’s 25-19, 25-19, 20-25, 23-25, 15-8 win.
“The trust that coach gave me was always there and I’m very thankful, as a senior, that I should be the one to help carry this team,” said Rivera. “The composure that he’s searching for should start from me and the other seniors.”