Just a few months ago, Sydney Niegos thought her time with Capital1 — and maybe even volleyball itself — was over.
The Solar Spikers had released her to make room for a wave of new signings. For an entire month, Niegos didn’t even glance at a volleyball. Every look at the ball or the court was a painful reminder of what she had lost.
“Tinanggal ako eh. Kaya super down,” said Niegos, who had been with the squad since its entry into the league two years ago. “One month ako, grabe, ‘di ko tinignan yung bola, yung court. ‘Di ako naglaro.”
So, she moved on.
Niegos, a BS Criminology graduate from Jose Rizal University, decided to put her degree to use after her release. She applied for a law enforcement post at the Land Transportation Office, was accepted as a deputized officer, and was already attending a seminar — preparing for what she believed would be her life after volleyball.
But in a twist she never saw coming, her phone rang in the middle of that transition. And it was a call that would pull her back from the life she was preparing to build and return her to the court she thought she had left behind.
On the other end was Capital1 head coach Jorge Souza de Brito, asking her to return to the squad just a month after she had been released. It reopened a chapter she thought had ended.
“Tapos one day kumuha ako ng work, natanggap na ako. Tapos tinawagan niya ako. Nasa seminar na ako, nakapasa na ako, nagte-test na ako,” she shared.
Niegos didn’t hesitate.
In an instant, she walked away from the job she had just secured, left the seminar she had already started, and chose to return to the team — to the court that had once broken her heart but still felt like home.
(C) PVL Images
“Hindi ako nagdalawang-isip kasi iba po kapag coach na yung tumawag sa’yo, hindi lang yung management. ‘Pag coach kasi, nagtitiwala siya. Ayoko naman masayang yung opportunity,” said the former NCAA star.
“Alam niyo naman po sa volleyball, iilan lang yung makakapasok sa pro. So grinab ko po. Grabe po yung saya ko nung bumalik ako kasi mas brokenhearted pa ako kaysa nakipag-break sa jowa nung tinanggal ako.”
Her return, however, was far from easy.
A month away from volleyball had taken its toll, and the grind of catching up was evident in every training session. She found herself constantly corrected, constantly shouted at by the coach who had brought her back.
But not once did she consider quitting again. No matter how tough the training, no matter how loud the corrections, she stayed. She held on — to the second chance she fought for, to the trust given back to her, and to the belief that this time, she wouldn’t let it slip away.
“Nung binigyan po ako, talagang every time na pumupunta ako sa training, alam ni coach yun — nahihirapan akong bumalik kasi one month nga akong off. So talagang tinanggap ko lahat ng galit niya. Sinisigawan niya ako na dapat ito yung ginagawa,” recalled Niegos.
“As in, lagi po talaga kami nag-aaway, lagi niya ako pinapagalitan. Tinatanggap ko. Tiwala lang din po ako sa dasal talaga,” she added.
By the time the conference started, Niegos was ready. When the opportunity finally came, she made sure to repay de Brito’s faith.
Heading into their sixth game, with little support for star rookie Bella Belen, de Brito inserted Niegos into the starting lineup. He hoped she would shake things up — and she delivered, providing the squad with much-needed firepower at a time they desperately sought answers.
Determined to prove her worth, Niegos recorded a career-high 20 points on 17 attacks, two kill blocks, and one ace. The Solar Spikers survived a thrilling five-set encounter against Farm Fresh, 26-24, 20-25, 28-26, 20-25, 15-11, marking their third win of the tournament.
“Ako po, ayaw ko po mawala yung trust ni coach. Every chance na binibigay niya sa akin, since ito na yung second chance ko sa Capital1 na binalik nila ako, gusto ko lang every game, every training, binibigay ko yung best ko,” said the 5-foot-8 opposite spiker.
“Kahit may masakit minsan — 99-percent may masakit man — binibigay ko pa rin talaga yung best ko. Gusto ko lang i-prove kay coach na hindi nasayang yung pagbalik niya sa akin. Gusto kong tumulong kay Bella. Basta gusto kong ibigay lahat ng best ko para makatulong sa team,” she added.
De Brito said he felt thrilled to see Niegos trust the process, stay patient, and finally reap the rewards of her hard work and perseverance on the court.
(C) PVL Images
“I’m really confident that she can deliver more than this and be more consistent. But for now, she’s happy because she trusts the process and also trusts her teammates. So, it’s a team effort, as I said before. I’m really, really happy for her,” said the Brazilian coach.
Niegos said she felt overjoyed to have finally proven herself, showing that all the sacrifices, the long hours, and the doubts she faced were worth it.
In just one game, everything Niegos had prayed for before the start of the conference seemed to fall into place, proving that her comeback was more than deserved.
“Super happy po talaga. Eto yung best game ko. First time ko mag-POG. Basta thankful ako na ganun kalaki yung trust na binigay sa akin ni coach ngayon, since di niya ako masyadong pinalitan. Nagkaroon ako ng mahabang time. Na-prove ko sa kanya na you can give me more chances pa on the next games kasi kaya naman,” said Niegos.
“Very thankful sa trust niya, and ganun din naman ako sa kanya. Di man niya ako ipasok o ipasok niya ako, nagtitiwala ako kung ano man plan niya sa game,” she continued.
“Lahat po ng prayers ko ay nakamit ko nang maaga sa taon na ’to. Lahat ng pinagdasal ko nung natanggal ako, sobrang aga ko pong na-receive.”
