Although they weren’t clad in the proud green and white of La Salle, Aby Maraño still couldn’t help but feel right at home with her former teammates.
Donning F2 Logistics’ red and yellow, Maraño led the Cargo Movers over the Cignal HD Spikers. Tyang went for a game-high 17 points on nine attacks, five blocks, three aces, accompanying every point she and her teammates scored with an emphatic celebration.
“Sobrang saya lang. Parang nasa alapaap ka nang kasayahan. Kasama ko sila ulet, nagce-celebrate ka every point, kasama mo sila – sila yung ina-apiran mo,” the former La Salle team captain gushed.
Some of the current F2 players, Tyang went to war with. With Paneng Mercado and Cha Cruz, she won two UAAP championships. In her senior years, Maraño was the veteran who mentored current superstars Ara Galang, Kim Fajardo, Kim Dy, Mika Reyes, and Majoy Baron.
Tyang feels especially proud of how far Baron and Reyes have come since the pair shared the middle position with her.
“Ang laki na ng improvement (ni Baron at Reyes). This year lang, sobrang tuwang-tuwa ako kay Majoy kasi ang pakiramdam ko, kahit although nawala na ako sa La Salle, nagstep-up siya. Gumawa siya ng paraan, nagpeperform siya para sa team,” she said of the Tarlac native.
“Nakausap ko siya (Reyes) sa isang training. Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Naalala mo ba yung di nakakapagpapasok ng serve? Tapos di ka nakakapalo? Ang laki na nang in-improve mo.'” Maraño added about Reyes.
“From there, makikita mo yung feeling sa akin – ang ate lang ng dating ko. Nakita ko sila nung hindi sila nakakapalo, nandoon ako para alalayan sila. Ngayon, makikita mo nagpeperform na sila, ang lalakas ng pinapalo nila, ang tataas na ng IQ nila sa volleyball.”
If given a choice, Maraño would always choose to play with her fellow La Sallians.
“For us La Sallians, pag tinanong ka kung gusto mo makalaro yung co-La Sallians mo pati sila coach Ramil, hindi na pinag-iisipan ng dalawa o tatlong beses yan, sure shot na. Noong nalaman ko na makakasama ko sila, I couldn’t ask for more,” she expressed.
Back with famed mentor coach Ramil De Jesus, Maraño relishes her time with the strict perfectionist who molded her into one of the sport’s best leaders.
“Ang dating niya ngayon sa akin, senior na senior na. Mataas ang dating sa akin ni coach Ramil. Gusto ko ‘yun,” Kapitana shared about coach RDJ. “Namiss ko yung kino-correct niya ako, ‘yung tinuturuan niya ako. Ngayon, iba na ang dating, parang dapat alam mo na yan. Nagawa mo na yan, ireremind ko lang sila.”
“At saka mas lighter na coach Ramil na ngayon. Kasi PSL, siyempre professional league, wala masyadong pressure, kailangan lang talaga maging professional ka sa trabaho mo,” she closed.
Maraño and F2 look to continue riding on cloud nine when they take on the Amy’s Kitchen Spikers on Thursday, 6:00 p.m. at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
