After a season spent on the sidelines, University of Santo Tomas senior Jonna Perdido feels torn between chasing unfinished business on the court and closing a chapter off it.
Despite missing UAAP Season 87 due to a complete anterior cruciate ligament tear, the outside hitter remains undecided about returning to the Golden Tigresses for Season 88 — choosing instead, for now, to focus on completing her degree in Fitness and Sports Management.
“So far sa ngayon, wala pang final plans talaga. Gusto ko muna grumaduate this year, tapos tsaka ko iisipin yung next steps sa career ko,” Perdido told Tiebreaker Times in an exclusive interview after UST’s season-ending 22-25, 25-11, 21-25, 21-25 loss to the De La Salle University Lady Spikers in the Season 87 Final Four.
Throughout Season 87, Perdido admitted that watching from the sidelines brought more pressure than being on the court, noting that she often struggled to contain her emotions.
While that feeling of regret continues to linger, the Davao native chose instead to celebrate the grit of her injury-depleted team, who still managed to secure a podium finish despite missing key players.
UST’s road to bronze was anything but smooth. Aside from Perdido’s absence, the Tigresses were also without Xyza Gula due to a displaced tailbone fracture.
Additionally, outside hitter Kyla Cordora dealt with an ankle sprain, and middle blocker Em Banagua nursed a hyperextended thumb throughout the season.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“The whole season this Season 87, nakaka-pressure talaga manood kaysa maglaro. Parang kapag nasa loob ka ng court, nabubuhos mo lahat ng makakaya mo gawin para sa team mo. Sa sidelines kasi, hindi mo ma-control yung sarili mo sa emotions, kaya mas nakakakaba talaga,” Perdido shared.
“Sobrang may panghihinayang sa end ko kasi ayon nga, I was forced to watch from the sidelines imbis na last year, nakakatulong ako. Pero sa ngayon, ayoko muna mag-focus doon or kung ano status ko regarding next season kasi gusto ko muna pasalamatan yung teammates ko na nag-step up para sa UST,” she added.
“Sa dinami-dami ng challenges at obstacles na binato sa amin ngayon, ito pa rin ang UST, lumaban pa rin hanggang dulo.”
Perdido also praised the leadership of fellow seniors Pia Abbu and team captain Detdet Pepito, who guided the Tigresses to their first third-place finish since Season 79.
Like Perdido, both Abbu and Pepito still have one year of eligibility left should they decide to return for another run.
“Huwag muna kayo umalis please, sabay-sabay tayo. Pero joking aside, proud talaga ako hindi lang sa buong team, pero lalo sa kanilang dalawa. Nilaban talaga nila. Nakita naman natin sa laro kanina hanggang matapos yung season na ito, linaban talaga nila tsaka pinagpaguran talaga nila yung season na ito. Pinagpaguran talaga nila ang UST para sa season na ito na bronze medal,” she said.
Should Perdido decide to move on from collegiate volleyball, she hopes to leave behind a legacy of resilience, hunger, and pride that the next generation of Tigresses can carry forward as they aim to capture the university’s first UAAP women’s volleyball title since Season 72 in 2010.
“Siguro yung pagiging matapang nila at huwag dapat mapagod sa lahat ng training, sa linalaro nila, at gusto ko rin na maging eager sila palagi sa training at gumawa ng specific goals para sa sarili nila.”
