FINALLY, there is life after collegiate competition for our country’s top volleybelles.
They can now participate in the Philippine Super Liga (PSL), the first-ever semi-professional and commercial club volleyball league in the country.
The PSL could also serve as a training ground for future national players, especially after the fallout of the Bomberinas and the lackluster performance shown by the Shakey’s V-League Selection last month in Vietnam.
After her stellar career as a UST Lady Spiker, Angeli Tabaquero said PSL provides big opportunities for former college players like her to continue playing and get paid for what they do.
“I must say na sobrang laking tulong ng PSL sa mga volleyball players ngayon. Here in Super Liga, mas nabibigyan ng chance ‘yung former players to continue doing what they love and enjoy it at the same time, binabayaran sila,” she said.
Tabaquero noted that although Shakey’s V-League has been a home to spikers like her who have already graduated, having foreign guest players lessens their chances to still represent their alma mater or any other university.
The two-time UAAP champion also said that the higher level of competition in PSL could prepare players who would don the national colors.
“‘Yung level ng competition dito sa PSL is higher kasi lahat ng players experienced na, lalo pang aangat yung level ng skills and makakatulong sa pag-grow ng players sa sport,” she said. “It could definitely help with the formation of future national teams, ‘yung level of maturity ng players is higher and kapag nagtuloy-tuloy ang program, may basis na sila ng mga players na deserving masama sa selection for the national pool.”
The PSL, according to Tabaquero, is “long overdue” but would nonetheless give former mainstays “something to look forward to.”
“Dapat nga matagal nang nagkaroon ng pro league [for volleyball] kasi maraming talented players na nasayang ‘yung peak years nila [when they were in college],” she said. “[PSL] gives college players something to look forward to after graduating and sana magtuloy-tuloy na.”
Tabaquero knows PSL could provide a big boost, especially talent and funding, for future national teams, but recognizes the important role of volleyball fans in the sport’s further development.
“Kasi hindi lang basta collegiate teams ‘yung naglalaro, pati big companies nagpa-participate na. Kapag mas naging malaki pa ang suporta ng companies sa sport mismo, in time, baka magkaroon na ng maraming sponsors kapag nagkaron ng national team and funding won’t be a problem,” the 5-foot-7 spiker said. “Kung hindi rin naman sa volleyball fans, hindi magiging ganito kalaki yung sport sa bansa natin ngayon.”
