UAAP Season 79 Men’s Badminton MVP Ros Pedrosa
Any person who has watched UAAP Season 79 Men’s Badminton Most Valuable Player Ros Leenard Pedrosa of the National University Bulldogs would feel that the lean but mean machine from Pasay makes it looked so easy.
But as far as Pedrosa is concerned, the award still came as a surprise.
Just minutes after clinching the smaller version of the Campione sculpture, the fourth-year NU ace still could not believe what had transpired.
“I feel so happy kasi I never expected na mag-MVP ako this season lalo na kasi yung mga teammates ko rin malalakas,” he uttered.
When asked who Pedrosa thought was supposed to take the plum, he named team captain Alvin Morada or last year’s Rookie of the Year Keeyan Gabuelo.
Alvin Morada and Ros Pedrosa have been long-time partners in NU
“Mas ahead sila kesa sa kin sa skills,” the humble Nationalian said.
However, the very reason why Pedrosa had doubted himself winning something this big individually was his humble beginnings in the sport.
“Unang-una, nung high school pa lang ako, actually, hindi ko ine-aim talaga na maging MVP, kasi before pa lang sobrang dami ng magagaling talaga,” the 20 year old shared.
“Siguro, bonus na lang yung pagiging MVP, ang goal ko talaga is maging part ng champion team and ito, natupad yung pangarap ko. Bonus na lang tong MVP kaya sobrang tuwa ko.”
Nonetheless, Pedrosa achieved the unthinkable and captured this year’s top individual and team awards. And he knows that this was due to the patience and perseverance they have had all year.
“Yung pagiging hardworking ko, tuluy-tuloy lang. At bilib rin sa sarili. Kailangan may bilib ako sa sarili ko na kaya kong gawin yung mga dapat gawin. Tsaka dapat lahat ng bagay, positive ka na makakaya mong gawin,” the 20-year-old shared.
For Pedrosa, he might have gotten the distinction but he feels the rest of the championship squad from Bustillos had its hand in molding him into who he is today.
“Natulungan nila ko especially sa sparring, kapag nagkakalaban kami. Yung intensity ng game ko mas tumataas kasi nahahatak nila.”
The road has not been easy for him, as he has suffered setbacks dating back to his freshman year, despite winning the Rookie of the Year award.
“Sobrang dami kong talo, disappointments, kaya nada-down ako. I never expected na mangyayari to sa kin,” he reflected.
After getting his wish of being part of a champion team — three consecutive times at that — and snaring the MVP plum as an added reward, the King Bulldog feels nothing but elation with everything he has accomplished.
“Sobrang, sobrang saya, kasi unexpected ko talaga.”
“[Yung disappointments,] tinrasfer ko siya sa pagiging positive na itong pagiging disappointed ko na, as a player, mas pinursigi ko pa na hindi hanggang dito lang yung buhay ko,” he furthered.
“Hindi dito natatapos yung buhay ko sa pagiging talunan kaya nag-work hard lang talaga ko na makuha ko yung goal namin na mag-champion uli.”
Hardwork pays off when talent works hard. And for someone who admits to “not being the best,” perseverance will somehow validate one’s status in the end.
Indeed, he has now become the best.
