TUBOD, Lanao del Norte — PLDT’s last trip in the Premier Volleyball League On Tour Showdown will be more special for Kath Arado.
Arado will return to her roots as the PVL travels to the Mindanao Civic Center here, with her family from Iligan City ready to show support.
The High Speed Hitters will face the Akari Chargers in the 6:30 PM main game on Saturday. On the other hand, the Farm Fresh Foxies and the Nxled Chameleons collide at 4:00 PM.
“Ang saya. Noong nanood nga ako ng videos, naalala ko ulit ‘yung araw na naglalaro ako dito. Parang na-reminisce ko lahat and the same time, sobrang proud kasi first time ito,” said Arado.
“Very happy talaga ‘yung heart ko kasi ang ganda din nung ganitong PVL, ‘yung On Tour na every province talaga mapupuntahan namin. Lalo na ‘yung iba na hindi kaya pumunta ng Manila or hindi talaga nila kaya panoorin ‘yung idols nila. Ito na rin ‘yung give back sa mga fans na laging sumusuporta sa amin,” the proud daughter of Lanao del Norte continued.
Now a six-time Best Libero in the PVL, Arado started her volleyball dreams in Lanao del Norte, and she hopes that this preseason traveling caravan of the league inspires more from her province.
The province has been a growing sports tourism site in the Philippines with support in various sports already visible even when Arado was still younger.
“Oo, kahit dati pa, ano talaga sila sa volleyball… Actually, lahat ng sports very supportive. Since ilang taon na akong naglalaro — high school days ko pa lang, very supportive na si Lanao sa ganitong events. Tama naman sila pag nakita niyo Lanao, babalik at babalikan niyo talaga,” said the decorated defensive specialist.
Her family from Iligan City will travel to Tubod to watch her live here in Mindanao for the second time, having been present during the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference play date in Cagayan de Oro.
For Arado, there will just be much more motivation to perform better with her family in the arena on Saturday — most especially her grandfather.
“Sobrang happy ako lalo na sa lolo ko kasi mapapanood niya ako ulit kasi last time napanood ako UAAP days pa, UE days ko pa. So, very happy kasi iba ‘yung kumpiyansa mo kapag kapamilyang nanonood, lalo na pag ‘di lagi. Dagdag inspiration tsaka dagdag motivation for me.”
