MARY Joy Indac had to wait for four years before seeing action in the UAAP. She did not disappoint.
Indac helped the Lady Booters return to the finals while winning the Rookie of the Year in the process.
The Davao-native, who started playing football in her second year in high school, was a sought-after talent in her province and was even tapped to play for the Philippine Under-14 football squad.
The future looked bright for the Sports and Wellness Management student but after her high school graduation in 2013, she had to put her football plans on hold.
Indac was already asked to continue her football career in UST but her mother forbid her from going to Manila since it was far from home.
Indac, together with her coach in the Aguilas Dabaw FC, Jessie Gravino, convinced her parents to allow her to play for the Lady Booters.
“I and my coach tried to talk to my parents since it has really been a dream of me to play for UST and to play in the UAAP and fortunately, they were convinced,” Indac said.
The 20-year-old stayed with former Lady Booters and UAAP champions Marie and Marice Magdolot for one month in Manila but was forced to go back to Davao following a major revamp in the team’s coaching staff.
“I only had one tryout session with the team but the good thing is the former coach recommended me to coach Aging (Prescila Rubio).”
Coming from a short stay in the Holy Child College of Davao, Indac had to serve a one-year residency before finally donning the UST colors this season.
She helped the Lady Booters, who finished at the bottom of the standings for the past two seasons, get back to the finals by scoring two goals the whole season.
“We know the pressure of getting out of the slump since we lost so many veterans. We did not expect the boom of the team this year,” Indac said.
For Lady Booters coach Rubio, her prized recruit just needs more time to realize her full potential.
“She can actually go toe-to-toe with girls who are bigger than her. She lacks mental toughness in the games because sometimes she does not know what to do once her nerves take over,” Rubio told the Varsitarian in a text message.
Following the Lady Booters’ loss to the De La Salle University in the finals, Indac can only vow that the team will come back stronger next season.
“We know our mistakes in the finals. We are going to learn from them and apply them in our games next season,” Indac said.
