Xyz Rayco showed no signs of rookie jitters when she stepped onto the court at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center for three-time defending champion National University-Nazareth School on Thursday.
The outside hitter made an immediate impact, scoring three service aces during a lengthy stint at the line, including back-to-back points that erased NU-Nazareth’s early 0–2 deficit against Adamson University.
Rayco eventually finished with 20 points on 14 kills, two blocks, and four service aces to earn Player of the Match honors.
Not bad for someone who admitted to feeling nervous at the start.
“First time ko po and dream ko po talaga ‘tong UAAP. Andoon ‘yung kaba po, andoon po talaga ‘yung pressure. Pero andiyan naman po ‘yung teammates ko, ibigay daw po namin sa kanila ‘yung pressure,” she said.
It helped that the wing spiker eased into the match with a strong start at the service line. Rayco said gaining confidence from her first few serves allowed her to settle down.
“Malaking tulong po sa ‘kin kasi wala po akong kumpiyansa sa service ko. Pero nagawan ko ng paraan at naipakita ko na puwede siyang mag-ace, at nalakasan ko ‘yung look ko.”
Perhaps the biggest source of both pressure and confidence for the young upstart is her wealth of international experience. Rayco previously suited up for the Alas Girls in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Under-16 Championships, where she served as captain, as well as the FIVB World Under-17 Championships.
(C) AVC
Rayco, however, believes she can draw more positives from those experiences as she begins her UAAP journey.
“Siyempre, malaking tulong na po siya sa ‘kin at sa team po. Although malalakas po talaga ‘yung mga teams do’n, natutunan ko po talaga i-handle ‘yung pressure sa sarili ko lang po. At nadala ko naman siya sa UAAP game ko po,” the pride of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte shared.
Rayco also took pride in what the two Alas Girls squads accomplished, with their fifth-place finish in the continental U-16 tournament earning them a ticket to Chile for the Worlds.
There, the U-17 side pulled out all the stops to finish 15th in the world.
“Malaking bagay po talaga na nag-top 15 kami. Hindi po biro ‘yung mga nangyari sa ‘min do’n, mga challenges po na dumating sa ‘min. Although malalakas po talaga ang kalaban, nagawan po namin ng paraan,” she shared.
“Iniisa-isa po namin ang bawat team, kung ano ang dapat pagtrabahuhan. Andoon naman ‘yung coaches para i-guide kami ‘kung papaano gumalaw.”
Once a girl who could only dream of playing in the UAAP and on the sport’s biggest stages, Rayco can now say that she has made it.
And she hopes other young players like her can experience the same opportunity.
“Mag-start din po ‘yan sa mga liga-liga dito sa Manila at sa mga national. Kasi marami pong bata na malalakas talaga na puwedeng mabigyan ng opportunity na makalaro sa international,” she said.
“Siguro patuloy lang po ‘yung program and ‘yung suporta; sana suportahan ‘yung mga bata po na gusto nilang ma-prove na gusto nila maglaro sa international and kaya nila.”
