Dimdim Pacres during a press conference.–Photo from Galeries
MANILA, Philippines — After a long wait and almost walking away from her beloved sport, Dimdim Pacres is finally making her professional debut in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) with the Galeries Highrisers.
“Sobrang tagal ko kasing inantay. Ang daming pinagdaanan, ang daming expectations tapos nag-fail ganun,” said an emotional Pacres in the team’s introductory press conference on Saturday at Okada.
Since the PVL became a pro league two years ago, Pacres has been working her way to play with the country’s best and elite volleyball players.
The hard-hitting opposite spiker received offers from aspiring companies to join the league — including Peak Form in 2021 — but all of them didn’t push through.
“Like past two years, marami ditong parang na-scam. Hindi madali. Nag-expect kami akala namin makakapaglaro ulit ganyan so balik workout, tapos hanggang dumating na sa point na parang nagwoworkout ka tapos ‘para san ‘to?’” Pacres expressed. “Puro excuses na lang kasi.”
In the past four years that she missed the volleyball scene, the former University of Santo Tomas Tigress admitted she went through depression and she fought it through trying different jobs as a call center agent and starting a food business.
“Dumaan sa depression, lahat na, ‘di mo na alam kung anong gagawin mo, lahat ng trabaho napasukan na. Nagbebenta na ako ng kwek-kwek, ang dami kong ano may shake ako tapos may suman pa,” Pacres said. “Pero thankful naman ako sa lahat ng mga challenges na napagdaanan ko kasi ang dami kong natutunan, ang dami kong naappreciate, and grateful talaga ako sa lahat ng nangyari kasi kung hindi nangyari yun hindi ako mago-grow tapos every small things parang hindi mo maappreciate.”
FILE–UST’s Dimdim Pacres in the UAAP.–Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The 26-year-old hitter, who last played in the PVL in 2018 with the defunct Fighting Warays, tried out for different teams but didn’t make it. She almost gave up on her volleyball dream to focus on her job as a call center agent and was close to shutting down her social media accounts.
“Sabi ko, ah next year bahala na kayo ng volleyball eh. Biglang February, nag-start na yung UAAP, nag-PVL na, so ang dami na sa social media so nagbe-break down na naman ako. Parang akala ko ba okay ka na? Bakit nagbe-breakdown ka na ulit’ umabot pa sa time na parang gusto ko na mag-social media blackout para ‘di ko na makita yung nangyayari sa volleyball kasi yung ibang friends ko nakakapagtraining sila tapos nakakapaglaro sila kahit saan tapos ako nandun lang, nagtatawag tawag,” she said.
Pacres is blessed to finally receive an opportunity from coach Lerma Giron, who recruited her to join the newest PVL team, Galeries. She also thanked her college coach KungFu Reyes for motivating her and her fans, who never stopped waiting for her PVL return.
“Thankful talaga ako sa team na ‘to at kay coach lerma sa tiwala sakin and also sa mga supporters din talaga na nagpupush din sakin na kailan daw ako maglalaro ulit ganiyan,” she said. “Masasabi ko talaga kay Lord sobrang answered prayer talaga ‘to sakin kasi ilang taon din at nabigyan ako ng chance na makapaglaro sa pro so ito na yun, sobrang happy ko.”
Pacres may be making her first pro stint but this season-ending All-Filipino Conference will serve as a gauge for her if she will continue playing volleyball in the future.
“Ayaw ko pa mag-stop kasi alam kong meron pa kong kayang ipakita. Parang ‘di pa ko satisfied nung college ako eh, parang feeling ko talaga meron so sabi ko kahit isang conference bigyan ako ng chance ulit para dun ko makita if kailangan ko pa bang magpatuloy or kailangan ko ng magstop,” she said. “Tignan natin ngayon conference if magsastop na ba ako or for the long term na tayo na work.”
Pacres makes her pro debut when Galeries plays its first-ever PVL game against Petro Gazz on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.