For 21-year-old Arjay Lazareto, the highs of collegiate badminton weren’t just dreams — they were already a reality two years ago with San Beda University.
An MVP award and a championship with the Mighty Red School were the pinnacle for a shuttler who had only started the sport a decade earlier.
From humble beginnings in local tournaments, Lazareto’s talent quickly caught attention.
San Beda recruited him under coach Rocky Magnaye, and from there, his collegiate journey took off.
Although his original goal was to play in the UAAP, Lazareto honored the first offer that came his way — San Beda’s.
Two years after winning the championship and earning his degree in Information Technology at 23, Lazareto was preparing to start a professional career when an unexpected call changed everything.
“For most, hindi ko talaga siya planado, balak ko na rin mag-work. Nagulat ako, tumawag si UP, tumawag si coach Theo na eligible pa pala ko to play sa UAAP and in terms of the requisites pasok pa pala. So, from offer, nag-dire-diretso na siya until ako mag-training,” Lazareto recalled.
“Pikit-mata na ginrab ko ‘yung opportunity kasi sayang naman, kasi ‘yung edad pwede kang tumanda, pero ‘yung memories ‘di mo na mababalikan.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The chance to play in the UAAP wasn’t just an opportunity — it was the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
A kid from Santa Rosa, Laguna, suddenly had a shot to showcase his talent on one of the country’s biggest collegiate stages.
“To play in the UAAP is malaking factor talaga kaya napa-oo akong maglaro ulit for the UP team,” he shared.
“Nung nagkaroon ng opportunity na ma-fulfill ko ulit ‘yung dream ko na makapaglaro sa UAAP, grinab ko agad siya kahit mahirap.”
Adjusting to the UAAP’s demands has been no small task, even for a top NCAA athlete.
“Na-culture shock talaga ko in terms of paglipat ko sa UP. Yung differences ang dami; ‘yung trainings pa lang very rigid kasi dahil sa time. Everyday, 6:00 to 9:00 AM ‘yung training naming, and talagang na-shock ako do’n kasi kailangan ko ring mag-adjust na kailangan ko pa ring sumabay sa mga bata and parang kuya na ko sa kanila,” Lazareto admitted.
“Yun ‘yung mahirap, pero kinakaya naman and in-enjoy ko na lang siya ngayon kasi nga for me, it’s an additional experience.”
For Lazareto, every challenge is a chance to grow. After facing setbacks that sidelined him in the past, he stays focused on making each moment on the court count.
“Kahit sino naman is ang goal ay mag-champion pero kung you will take that view, mao-overwhelm ka. So, dapat ang mindset namin is to be the best version of ourselves, and to win one point at a time,” he said of his personal goals this season.
Having played two seasons with the Red Shuttlers, the 23-year-old master’s student in Human Movement Science still has three playing years left with the Fighting Maroons — including this season — ready to turn dreams into reality once again.
