What people might consider as a batch is just a multitude of individuals coming in to a certain group at a given year. And perhaps the last talented batch to enter the UAAP women’s badminton circuit came three years ago when the K-12 had yet to be implemented.
One of those talented UAAP Season 78 rookies was Laguna native and badminton offspring Joela Geva De Vera from the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles.
That crop of rookies were all then members of the national team; thus, the pedigree was at a high. And De Vera showed her own, helping the Lady Blue Eagles reach another Finals appearance.
Despite her team being relegated to the runners-up position and not getting the Rookie of the Year award, the then-newbie knew that she gave out a performance worth noting and worth being proud of.
Nonetheless, as De Vera herself admitted, her next years were sub-par.”Kailan lang ba ko huling nag-step up? Nung first year lang. Sabi ko, second year, third year, I was trying, but may faults din ako.
“So, gusto ko yung fourth year ko maging memorable for me. Not for the team, but for me muna. Kasi ‘pag inuna ko sa sarili ko susunod naman sila.”
Such were the words of a lady who has come of age, from being the squad’s youngest player to one of the team’s leaders.
Going into the season with limited manpower, De Vera knew from the start that she needed to play singles – territory she had never entered in her collegiate career. But as a willing leader, she accepted the fact and worked for it.
“To be honest, sobrang contented yung feeling. Hindi ko na nga iniisip yung bilang ng team. Iniisip ko na lang gusto kong bumawi kasi nag-game kami before,” the senior Lady Eagle shared of her current state.
For the 20-year-old, it was all worth her hard work during the summer. “Gusto kong gamitin yung training ko. As in hindi madali yung mental preparation ko. Kasi galing akong doubles eh, so ang hirap palakihin nung court.
“So, yung ginawa sa ‘kin, as in tinadtad ako ng buong araw.”
That determination showed in perhaps her most crucial assignment of her UAAP career. And it was against none other than another member of the same recruitment class, the De La Salle University’s Iyah Sevilla.
Sevilla, now the Lady Shuttlers captain, took the first game with relative ease. However, De Vera had other plans and was starting to come up with counter measures.
The Ateneo standout wasted no chance as her opponent from Taft was not able to close out. The result was in favor of De Vera – the match went into the third and deciding game.
It was not easy for the Lady Eagle, however, as she stumbled on the way to the end line to reach for the shuttle in one of the rallies in the third. De Vera had to be attended by the medics and had to be treated.
After a few minutes, De Vera casually walked her way to the bag rack and changed her outfit as if nothing happened, and played on. And for her, it was a show of grit and inspiration for her younger teammates.
“Maliit lang kami na team, hindi pa kami yung mga top sa Philippines. Paano sila susunod sa’kin? Kailangan desidido talaga kami,” she said.
“Yun lang yung mantra ko sa kanila. Kailangan walang bibitaw sa’tin,” De Vera added. “For four years, alam nating may nakasunod na malas sa’tin. Pero walang bibitaw sa’tin, malas o hindi.
“Kanina, nung natapilok ako. Sabi ko, paano ko mapapakita sa kanila na kaya ko pa? Nag-push talaga ko.”
With that, De Vera just really made her senior year one for the books. And she is just getting started.
