Jovelyn Gonzaga opened up about a could-have-been team-up with Alyssa Valdez last year during the Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2016 press conference on Wednesday.
Gonzaga and Valdez were supposed to be one of the two Filipino pairs in the Spike for Peace Invitational beach volleyball tournament last November 2015, but Gonzaga admitted she’d had to decline at that time, as she hadn’t been in her best shape.
“Actually ayoko mag-commit once na hindi ako prepared. Ayoko maglaro once hindi ako prepared, mentally, physically, emotionally, lahat na,” Gonzaga shared Wednesday.
Gonzaga added she hadn’t wanted to let the country down, and that there were more deserving pairs to represent the Philippines during that time.
“I think a week before or days before lang din (sinabihan) so ayoko magcompete for the Philippines na hindi ako ready. Siyempre, Pilipinas yung dala mo. Gustong-gusto ko maglaro at ipaglaban (ang bansa) pero kung hindi ka prepared,hu’wag na lang, ayoko din mapahiya,” Gonzaga said.
The duos of Danika Gendrauli-Norie Jane Diaz and Alexa Micek-Charo Soriano competed in the tournament.
Alexa Micek and Charo Soriano
Gonzaga said she always regrets missed opportunities, whether in beach or indoor volleyball, but she also understands her obligations as part of the Philippine Army.
“Actually, hindi ko rin alam na si Alyssa (Valdez) ang ka-partner ko (noon). Well lahat naman ng tournaments na hindi ko nasasalihan, nasasayangan ako. Sa nature din ng work, medyo mahirap. Pero sa ilang taon ko na rin sa service (sa Army), natatanggap ko naman na ganito ang (nature ng) work ko,” she said.
The Gonzaga-Valdez tandem remains a dream at this point, but perhaps in the future it can be an exciting reality.
