A year in the SV.League has done wonders for Maddie Madayag.
The 5-foot-11 middle blocker spent the past season with Kurobe in Japan, where she had to earn her place on the court.
Under coach Gen Kawakita, she was initially fielded as a service specialist before gradually working her way into a bigger role. She eventually played in 20 matches throughout the season.
That experience, Madayag admitted, has helped her grow both as a player and as a leader.
“Siguro nakakatulong din yung experience playing overseas and playing with the national team,” said Madayag, who immediately suited up for Alas Women after her stint in Japan.
“Every time naman sa training, I help them with whatever I learned from outside. So ayun, mas masaya lang ako na mas maraming pa akong naishi-share sa kanila.”
(C) PVL Images
Back with Choco Mucho in the Premier Volleyball League, the 27-year-old Ateneo product admitted that reintegrating into the Flying Titans’ system required some adjustments.
“It’s a different situation with the PVL din. So kailangan na pa rin I think mag-adjust a little bit,” added Madayag, the 2024 All-Filipino Conference Best Middle Blocker.
Despite the adjustment period, she didn’t miss a beat in her PVL return — the first since August 22, 2024.
Coming off the bench in all three sets, she delivered five points, highlighted by three blocks, while also bringing the leadership Choco Mucho had sorely missed over the past year.
Her effort helped the Flying Titans escape with a gritty 33-31, 26-24, 25-23 win over Capital1.
For Madayag, it was simply about doing her role.
“I just did my job nung pinasok ako sa court and as always, sumusunod lang naman kami sa sistema. And as long as we follow a straight path, I think magiging maayos naman yung outcome ng game.”
