In the absence of loud drums and screaming fans in a men’s volleyball game, a voice coming from a 6-foot-2 guy cheering and motivating his teammates resonates in the arena.
It’s national team power hitter, Mark Gil Alfafara, shouting to his Cignal teammates, “Wash! Wash!” after committing four consecutive service errors.
When asked post-game about what it means, he laughed and explained, “Laging sinasabi ni Coach [Oliver Almadro] na halimbawa, nagka-error ka, linisin na agad natin. Bumawi agad.”
Hence, “Wash! Wash!”, as in clean up the mess immediately.
The 23-year-old University of Santo Tomas product had been loud figuratively and literally all throughout since joining the HD Spikers back in the Reinforced Conference. And expect to hear him chanting “Let’s go Cignal! Let’s go!” on the sidelines. Truly, aside from his kills, his rally and character on court helped his team bag their second straight win in the tournament, silencing Sta. Elena in four sets.
“Kailangan kasi mga kasama ko medyo tahimik. Anyone can be a leader so step up, yun ang sinasabi ni Coach [Oliver Almadro],” the Gen Santos-native said.
Aside from being one of the leaders in the Cignal HD Spikers, Buboy — as his family and friends call him — is also one of the seniors in the men’s national volleyball team mentored by Coach Sammy Acaylar, which is set to compete in the upcoming 29th Southeast Asian Games in August. Alfafara shared that he is also this loud with the national team.
“Ako kasi minsan kung gusto ko lang mangulit, naninigaw lang ako ganyan. Lalo na pag tinopak ako, maingay talaga ako!
“Sa national team kasi, sabi ni Coach [Sammy Acaylar] sa amin, wag mo i-treat na teammate mo lang. I-treat mo bilang pamilya. Support lang ng support,” the power hitter animatedly shared.
In a separate interview with Coach Sammy Acaylar, he gave special mention to seniors Ranran Abdilla, Reyson Fuentes, and Mark Gil Alfafara for being very humble despite their championship backgrounds. He lauded them for not putting on a superstar attitude and for being very helpful to the younger ones.
Alfafara confirmed this and humbly shared that he does it all because he knows how it feels like to be the young one.
“Kumbaga, dun din naman ako nanggaling kung saan sila ngayon. Halimbawa mapapagalitan sila ganyan, sasabihin ko na okay lang yan. Suportahan lang kami.”
The national team is set to fly to South Korea on July 20 for a training camp before they face their opponents in the SEA Games in August.
By the way Alfafara’s eyes twinkled and body shivered at the mention of Korea, he obviously cannot hide his excitement.
“Excited kami kasi siyempre first time sa Korea! Saka isa pa, ibang style ng volleyball naman. Mostly alam naming volleyball is yung nakikita natin sa Pilipinas, ngayon naman, ibang level ng volleyball.”
The men’s national volleyball team will enter the SEA Games eyeing to end the medal drought in the sport, since the last podium finish of the Philippines was in 1991 with a bronze medal.
“Siguro anything can be possible. Kumbaga sinasabi nila bilog ang bola, hindi namin sinasarado ang door na hanggang dito lang tayo, we are still aiming sa pinaka highest pero syempre maging aware pa rin sa reality,” the UAAP 75 Season MVP said.
“Pero sa amin naman, whatever happens sa game kumbaga, wag kang maglaro ng may pagsisisihan ka. Give all, all out ka dapat, para kung ano man magiging resulta noon, wala kang pagsisisihan.”
When the writer confirmed to Alfafara if a medal is a realistic goal, he giddily answered, “Puwede! As long as God’s will na makarating kami dun, e ‘di why not. Magiging thankful pa rin kami kahit ano man ang maging resulta.” BY: Danine Cruz
