How Faith Nisperos is balancing school and pro volleyball

Akari Chargers’ Faith Nisperos. –Marlo Cueto/INQUIREr.net

MANILA, Philippines — While the Akari Chargers were waiting for their flight to Cagayan De Oro on Friday morning for their crucial Premier Volleyball League (PVL) on Tour game, Faith Nisperos brought out her laptop to finish a presentation for one of her school projects.

“I am just making my presentation at the airport because of course. we’re nearing finals week. So I have to take every opportunity that I can do my school works while we’re out of town,” Nisperos told Inquirer Sports.

The graduating BS Management student, who is in her last semester with 18 units, admitted it’s hard to juggle her studies and pro-volleyball life.

“Of course, it’s really hard to manage especially a lot of outside factors [like] the travel, the traffic and, of course,  I have to dedicate time and effort to everything I do. It’s really hard to maintain the focus to give 100 percent to all the aspects that I need,” said Nisperos.

When they landed in the City of Golden Friendship, the Akari rookie and the other three PVL clubs were welcomed at the City Hall and had lunch before attending a meet-and-greet with the Cagayanon fans.

Coming off a busy Friday, Nisperos led Akari to a much-needed 25-18, 25-15, 25-19 victory over the also-ran Gerflor to end a three-game skid and stay in semifinal contention in second All-Filipino Conference on Saturday in front of an ecstatic 9,000 fans at Aquilino Q. Pimentel International Convention Center.

Before their flight home on Sunday at Laguindingan Airport, the former Ateneo star also worked on her school assignment while waiting to board.

Despite the difficulty of balancing her studies and PVL stint, the 23-year-old spiker is taking it one task at a time.

“To handle it, I just have to relax just like ‘OK, one thing at a time.’ That’s how I try to manage school and playing, of course,” Nisperos said.

Support from the squad

Faith Nazareno and Fifi Sharma. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRErRnet

Nisperos, who jumped to the pros after three UAAP seasons with the Blue Eagles, said she and fellow students Fifi Sharma and Justine Jazareño, who are finishing their studies at La Salle,  are supporting each other despite studying in different schools.

“We may be from different schools but we just remind each other to rest and get some sleep. We have our own morale and emotional support with each other,” she said.

The veteran Chargers are also supporting their three pro-student players.

“They cheer us. When I ask them that I need to finish something and have to do my school works, they are very respectful of my time. They let me finish and tell me that they’re here to support,” Nisperos said.

Aside from her finals week at school, Nisperos is also bracing for their last three elimination games, which are a must-win for the 4-4 Akari to stay in semis hunt.