Akari newcomer Ced Domingo is eager to apply everything that she has learned with Nakhon Ratchasima in her new journey with Akari in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
“Well, I’ve said this before na din na one thing that I’ve really learned coming home from Thailand is yung maturity ko inside the game and as an individual din kasi parang yung mga instances na ganyan,” said Domingo.
Domingo, who just flew back to the Philippines from Thailand four days ago, recently helped Nakhon Ratchasima win its sixth championship in the Thailand Volleyball League after they beat Diamond Food via sweep in the finale.
The four-time PVL champion joined Jaja Santiago and Bryan Bagunas as the only Filipino players to win a championship overseas.
“Sinwerte lang ako. Ano, sobrang saya. Sabi ko nga sa post ko na parang ano siya sakin, ‘who could have thought’ moment siya for me kasi coming don, no expectations din eh. Gusto ko lang din talaga ma-experience and lumabas din sa comfort zone ko na kung ano pa ba yung ibubuga ko as a player and as an individual,” said the two-time PVL Best Middle Blocker.
“So, sinwerte lang ako na sobrang lakas din talaga ng teammates ko and sobrang ano, hindi rin talaga nagpapatalo. Same mentality from my former team na Creamline na yung level of competitiveness saka yung hindi talaga papayag na matatalo. Nakita ko yun going to Nakhon so parang hindi na rin siya bago sa feeling and parang I felt ano lang din, I’m in the right team doon,” she added.
“Yung composure din kasi sa Thailand, grabe rin yung mga ka-teammate ko dun like Onuma (Sittirak), talagang yung mga legends din ng Thailand. It’s super nice playing alongside them kasi sobrang dami niya talagang naturo sakin as a player and I really just can’t wait na ma-apply yung mga natutunan ko sa Thailand here sa Akari.”
The 24-year-old middle blocker, despite only practicing with the Akari just once prior to the All-Filipino Conference, made her debut on Saturday night in the Chargers’ 21-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-18 loss to Cignal at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Domingo sat out the first two sets before being plucked from the bench by head coach Raffy Mosuela. She ended up finishing the game, tallying just two points in her return to the PVL since her move to Thailand.
The FEU standout shared that she didn’t put any expectations in her PVL return, admitting that she is still in the adjustment period with the Chargers.
“Honestly, as of now ano pa rin talaga ako, first time ko kasi mag-training yesterday, yung full training talaga. So andon pa rin ako sa adjusting and adapting sa bagong system, sa bagong environment, new teammates, and new coaches so coming to this game, honestly very ano lang yung expectations ko sa sarili ko,” said Domingo.
“Hindi ko ganun tinaasan na parang, alam mo yung parang chill lang ako. Kung ano lang talaga yung… kung ano muna yung mabibigay ko for this game since first time ko nga mag-training yesterday. Yun lang muna talaga and I think ano naman, kahit papaano meron kaming nilalaban pero ayun, medyo nagkukulang,” she added.
Despite the debut loss, Domingo is ecstatic with what lies ahead for the up-and-coming Chargers, who have the likes of Faith Nisperos, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Fifi Sharma, Grethcel Soltones alongside Domingo in its roster.
The former Creamline standout said that the Chargers have what it takes to become a solid contender in the PVL, but she believes that the team needs to put in the work and build chemistry if they want to achieve something great.
“Ang tangkad din talaga nila so very promising and alam ko talaga na in the long run, meron din talagang ibubuga yung team namin. Chemistry lang talaga and more connection.”
