After skipping UAAP Season 81, Jho Maraguinot returned to Ateneo because of an opportunity of a lifetime — to play alongside sister Jaja.
But that partnership only lasted two games, as the league needed to end its season due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
And the 5-foot-9 spiker admitted that she felt heartbroken when she heard about it.
“Personally, ‘yung ano ko is kasi first time ko maglalaro with my sister, so parang sobrang excited ako. Like everyone in the family, sobrang excited na maglalaro kami together. And alam namin din sa pinagdaanan namin sa training magiging maganda ‘yung season,” Jho said during last Friday’s episode of The Prospects Pod, presented by SMART Sports and supported by Chris Sports.
“As a team naman, siyempre lahat ng teams nag-improve din from, I mean… Every season they improve naman, and ‘yun nga, we’re aiming for back-to-back sana pero wala.”
Moreover, Maraguinot sacrificed a lot to play with her sister Jaja.
Having played for PSL club Sta. Lucia for the 2019 season, Maraguinot was left in free agency when she committed to come back.
And now, she has yet to sign with a club because of the pandemic.
“Honestly ngayon wala because I was supposed to — dapat after season ko siya aayusin, pero ‘yun nga, ‘yung plano ko after season naudlot lahat. So ngayon wala pa, hindi ko pa alam.”
One option for Maraguinot is to return to Ateneo, as the league is planning to allow the return of student-athletes who were not able to play their events.
But for the 24-year-old, returning will be a tough decision, since it would mean that she would be in Ateneo for eight years.
“For me, mahirap na decision siya kasi personally, ako, matanda na ako. So I mean pumasok ako ng Ateneo I was 16, tapos aalis ako… If kung maglaro man ako next year, aalis ako 25,” thought Maraguinot.
“So parang it’s too long na for me. Sana nag-double major na lang pala ako.”
Still, as they say, blood is thicker than water. And if she can have another chance to play with Jaja, she would.
