Buds Buddin’s shoes in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Buds Buddin wrote his nickname “Ikih” on his Curry 2 FloTro shoes to remind himself of his parents, who urged him to keep going when he almost quit playing volleyball.
His family may be in Palawan in Buddin’s second UAAP men’s volleyball finals but seeing his nickname on his shoes inspires him that they are always there to support him.
“Kapag nababasa ko yung Ikih naalala ko lagi yung mama at papa ko na sila yung tumatawag sa akin ng Ikih pag sa bahay. Siyempre sila yung inspiration ko kung bakit ako nagpapatuloy sa paglalaro ng volleyball,” Buddin told Inquirer Sports after scoring 16 points in NU’s 25-17, 26-24, 25-19 over UST in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball Finals on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ: UAAP men’s volleyball: NU sweeps UST, nears four-peat
“Para mas mamotivate and ma-inspire ako na lagi sila nandyan sa tabi ko dala dala ko sila sa paglalaro ko,” he added.
The sophomore spiker shared that he almost quit volleyball when he suffered preseason injuries, tweaking his ankle in the Spikers’ Turf followed by a right hand fracture, which sidelined him for nine games in Season 86.
“Talagang umayaw na ko sa volleyball kasi naapektuhan yung mental health ko talagang sabi ko ayoko na parang suko na ko parang wala na kong career kasi yun nga sunod sunod ang injury,” Buddin said.
NU Bulldogs’ Buds Buddin.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
It was even hard for Buddin to share what he was going through with his mom and dad.
“May time na kapag gabi hindi na ko makatulog kasi hirap na hirap na ko sa sarili ko kasi everytime na nagccall kami naiiyak na lang ako pero hindi ko nilalabas kasi ayoko makita ng mga magulang ko,” he said.
But Ikih realized his purpose of playing volleyball: to give their family a good life.
READ: NU Bulldogs off to UAAP volleyball Finals, eliminating La Salle
“Pero dahil nga sa magulang ko, paano naman sila kung hindi ako tutuloy ? Sinong tutulong sa kanila?” Buddin said. “Dahil gusto ko makatulong sa pamilya ko. Tinuloy ko yung volleyball para mas makatulong sa kanila. Kaya nung naglaro na nilagay ko yung tawag sa akin which is Ikih.”
“Nakita ko na pinu-push nila ako na makakabalik ka at unti untiin mo lang. Yun yung nagboost sa akin na grabe pa rin tiwala ng parents ko na kahit injury ako. Andon pa rin yung support nila sa akin kaya tinuloy ko talaga,” he added.
Buddin returned and helped NU overcome challenges in its ‘four-peat’ bid, scoring a 32-point career-high in their playoff for the No.2 seed against La Salle before eventually returning to the finals against UST for the second straight season.
Buddin hopes to win another gold for the Bulldogs including his seniors and coach Dante Alinsunurin and his parents, who are why he is still playing.