HAILING from a family of multi-sport athletes, Fil-Am Maile Salang explored a range of sports, taking on roles such as open hitter and setter in volleyball, catcher and shortstop in softball, shot-putter and discus thrower in track and field, and forward in basketball.
However, while the 16-year-old aspired to excel in multiple sports, she also wanted to become a specialist in one.
“I don’t think it’s possible to do four sports all at once,” Salang told the Varsitarian. “You have to make a choice at some point.”
She ultimately chose volleyball and committed to joining the UST Junior Growling Tigresses last year.
“Volleyball is my first love,” she said. “There’s a connection that I have with volleyball that is totally different than anything else I’ve tried.”
“I guess I don’t really have an explanation, but I think volleyball is a sport that I could play forever if I could.”
Salang said the skills she acquired from being both a track and volleyball athlete mutually enhanced each other.
“Being able to bring the strength I gained from track and field to volleyball, being technical as well, was very helpful and vice versa.”
In 2022, UST coaches Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes and Yani Fernandez, alongside former Golden Tigresses Eya Laure and Imee Hernandez, traveled to Cebu to secure her commitment.
“Kinausap namin sila personally, and then, syempre sinabi kung ano ‘yung program, ano ‘yung puwedeng ma-cater ng UST para sa kanila, sa kaniya, benefits and privileges sa school,” Fernandez told the Varsitarian.
Initially, the team didn’t immediately secure Salang’s commitment, as UST and other schools were also interested in her track and field abilities, Fernandez said. However, the Tigresses’ training camp in Baguio last January ultimately convinced her to join the team.
“Nagkaroon ng kaunting closure noong sinama namin siya sa Baguio training camp last year para ma-experience niya and then to get along with her future teammates sa juniors,” he said. “Doon siya medyo nagkaroon ng linaw na parang sigurado na nga siya sa UST.”
In April, UST officially added Salang to the Junior Tigresses’ roster as the team’s primary setter in preparation for the UAAP Season 86 girls’ volleyball tournament.
Fernandez said Salang’s setting skills were still a work in progress but she was already in the process of adapting to the Filipino style of play.
“‘Yung setting skills niya, more on US style…So ngayon, ini-impart namin sa kaniya ‘yung larong Pinoy na kailangan shoot-set at may combination palagi,” the coach said.
Multi-sport roots
Salang has garnered an impressive array of accomplishments in both volleyball and track and field. In volleyball, she clinched the 14U silver medal at the 2021 Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament and was honored as the Most Inspirational Player and Celtic Awardee (MVP) for McNary High School’s Junior Varsity team in 2022.
She also contributed to the triumph of the North Pacific Juniors 16 National Team at the 2022 Triple Crown West Coast Invitational and played a pivotal role in securing the 2023 CESAFI Girls Volleyball Championship for Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu.
In track and field, Salang demonstrated her prowess by clinching the USATF Junior Olympic Oregon State Elementary Level Championship in shotput. She also holds the record for both discus and shotput in Grade 7 at Whiteaker Middle School.
She was the Female Field Athlete of the Year at McNary High School in 2022. Salang’s achievements extended to national competitions, where she competed in both the 2022 USATF Junior Olympic Nationals and the 2022 Nike Outdoor Nationals.
She secured gold medals in discus and shotput at the CESAFI Championships, setting new records in both events. Salang further distinguished herself after clinching gold in discus and shotput for Region 7 at the 2023 CVIRAA, and earning a bronze medal in discus at the prestigious 2023 Palarong Pambansa.
Salang said her parents, who have delved into American football, tennis, swimming, and softball, played a crucial role in her choice to pursue volleyball. This mirrors how they supported her two sisters, who were also multi-sport athletes, participating in both volleyball and track and field during high school and college.
“They said it’s not good for your body and you need to really focus on one thing,” she said. “And they just told me, what do you really love? What do you want to pursue? What do you want to keep pursuing as you get older? And I think volleyball was, of course, the choice.”
Fernandez said UST was open to allowing her to participate in both sports, but due to scheduling conflicts, with both sports scheduled in the first semester, Salang ultimately chose to prioritize volleyball.
“I’m a little nervous but more excited. I think this is one of the biggest opportunities I’ve ever been given,” Salang said. “I know it will be a fight. It will be a challenge for us, so we will really try our best and we will really work hard. That’s my goal: to work hard.”
The UST Junior Golden Tigresses missed the podium for the first time in 12 years after they finished fourth in UAAP Season 85.
