SHE MAY not have emerged as the “big winner” at the Pinoy Big Brother house, but Patricia Mae “Tricia” Santos still hopes to make it big, this time in the UAAP arena.
Santos will be suiting up for the UST Lady Spikers as an outside hitter in UAAP Season 76.
The ex-teen housemate had to put aside her budding volleyball career as she set her sights on showbiz. After landing a few roles she realized it isn’t her time yet, paving the way to give her first love another shot.
The 5-foot-8 volleybelle from Ateneo de Davao never had a hard time adjusting because she feels at home with her revered idols—Rhea Dimaculangan and Carmela Tunay—and with the rest of the team giving her a warm welcome.
But Santos still has work cut out for her.
Six months prior to the UAAP volleyball season, Santos, who is still finding her groove after a three-year break from the court, is using all the time she’s got to prepare for the coming UAAP season.
“She trains extra with the men’s team. Kasama siya sa road run at plyometrics. She just needs to continue with the routine she set for herself,” coach Odjie Mamon said.
Mamon also commends the way Santos struts her stuff, as well as her principle in playing the sport.
“Hindi siya magtatapon. She’s a safe player. May mga sitwasyon kasi na off ‘yung set sa kaniya pero nagagawan niya ng paraan, hindi niya itatapon, mae-error o maa-outside,” he said.
All these extra training and perseverance she has been putting up in work all root from one reason: for the love of volleyball.
“My heart is in volleyball and if my heart is really in it I think I should give my all to it,” Santos said. “I really want to help the team win so I'm really committing myself to playing.”
Santos said she is not shutting her doors for showbiz and admits that revisiting life in front of the camera is still likely, but as of the moment, she plans on having a rendezvous with something much closer to her heart.
“I didn’t quit [showbiz] actually. It’s more of pursuing my dreams, it’s more of giving myself a chance, a shot in what I love doing the most,” she said.
