#ASPROFILES: Fueling Passion for Volleyball
Photos by Darla Oloresisimo, Kyzeir Javier, Jel Roe Aglibot, and Luis Rodriguez/ABSC Media Committee
Pubmat by: Kristina Molina/UST Asian Studies Gazette
By Marielle Isabel Altuna
As the Thomasian Goodwill Games commenced on November 8, 2024, three students, from the Asian Studies program–Celene Batol, CJ Hernandez, and Gabriel De La Cuesta–participated in volleyball, representing the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) in both the Men’s and Women’s Division. In an on-site interview that was conducted last November 23, the three players shared their insights on what it means to be a student-athlete, what drove them to pursue their careers in volleyball, their strategies for managing the demands of their roles and responsibilities, and the lessons they learned from their experiences.
Celene Batol on Cultivating Balance and Leadership through Volleyball
Bearing jersey number five, Celene Batol of 4ASN1 shares that she draws inspiration from her parents, especially her mom, who also played volleyball and served as her first trainer—the driving force behind the decision to engage with the sport. From being a mere spectator to her mother’s games, she grew fond and eventually developed a love for volleyball during her primary years.
As a student-athlete, Batol has encountered numerous challenges, particularly the physically demanding training sessions that coincide with her academic workload. However, these challenges have never deterred her from playing the sport. Thanks to her supportive peers and strong mentality, she perceives volleyball as a way to maintain balance in her life, benefiting both her physical and mental well-being.
Despite her extensive experience, Batol acknowledges that there is still much to learn, especially when she was offered the role to become the Captain of the Women’s team of AB, a position she initially approached with reluctance. “It's like handling fire, natatakot akong mapaso. It's very intimidating na maging leader ka at tingalain ka ng mga taong alam mong mas malakas sayo,” she explained. Nevertheless, Batol persevered and worked hard to fulfill her responsibilities as a leader. Through her pep talks and efforts to motivate her teammates to contribute and perform their roles, she served as the needed stability of the team.
Living up to the statement of Victoria Garrick, a renowned volleyball player from the University of Southern California (US), “I’d rather be the worst in the best team than the best in the worst team,” Celene’s perspective was shaped both on and off the court. ”If you really surround yourself with people who can pull you up, why not. That’s better kasi you’re really set for improvement lang, you’re only gonna go up if you’re learning from the best,” she shared.
CJ Hernandez on Discipline, Resilience, and her Love for the Game
Given the significant amount of time she spent as a member of the varsity team during her high school years, CJ Hernandez of 4ASN2 took on the role of an Open Spiker for the Women's team of AB with discipline and resilience. It is through her passion for volleyball that she was able to improve, easing the process of moving forward despite the setbacks she encountered along the way– especially when it came to balancing her studies and meeting the demands of being an athlete. “All my life kasi talagang sanay na ako na I play volleyball alongside my studies so hindi lang siya extra-curricular for me, but I actually saw myself as an athlete,” she explained.
With her dedication, Hernandez has reaped the benefits of the sport, sharing how it taught her to prioritize her health, including managing her food intake and personal hobbies.
Now in her senior year, CJ shares that she has learned more about leadership. “Nagkaroon ako ng self-assurance and confidence with that, na hindi ako na-pressure sa tingin nila sakin, but mas naging confident ako knowing that I can do it, na I can lead them alongside with the other seniors. I think it just comes naturally, siguro, lalo na pag lahat kayo ng teammates mo, you're all close and friends with each other. So it wasn’t really that hard for me, it wasn’t a challenge. It was more of a motivation,” she added.
CJ emphasizes that, apart from her fervor for the sport, which always strengthened her willingness to take part in games, being surrounded by and playing alongside people whose passion for the sport mirrors her own serves as one of her greatest motivations to continue moving forward. Rather than becoming a new challenge, this camaraderie drives her to unlock her potential, both as an individual and as part of a team.
Gabriel De la Cuesta as a Student-Athlete: A Champion of Both Worlds
Having parents who were athletes, Gabriel De la Cuesta from 4ASN1, a Libero for the Men's Team of AB, felt a natural calling to follow in their footsteps. With numerous opportunities to participate in various sports, such as swimming, track and field, basketball, and soccer, he worked his way up and ultimately chose volleyball, explaining that it is the sport that they all love in their family.
Throughout his time playing the sport, De la Cuesta was almost always the smallest player on court. Regardless, this never brought him down. Instead, it motivated him and ultimately boosted his morale. “Being small, I have a different perspective than those who can fly because I do not fly like them, but rather I dive,” he stated. Drawing inspiration from his idol, “DenDen” Lazaro, who said, ”Falling is another way to fly,” he explained that there will always be moments in the game when one must observe and act from different lenses or points of view.
As one of the seniors, he feels obligated to step up and boost the morale of the team. He ensures that he fulfills his responsibilities while emphasizing the importance of teamwork and perseverance, especially in times of hardships.
For Gabriel, being a student-athlete means being a champion. “Regardless of the result or outcome of any tournament, the fact that you were able to balance the best of both worlds, of being a student and being an athlete, and the fact that you are persevering despite the challenges, you are showing up in practices, you are doing your best even if meron kang pinagdadaanan na personal problems and everything, that alone makes you a champion,” he explained.
The stories of Celene Batol, CJ Hernandez, and Gabriel De la Cuesta exemplify their passion for volleyball, excelling as student-athletes. Each of them offers unique characteristics and experience in playing the sport, which they share with the whole Asian Studies community.
Being a student-athlete is undeniably challenging, as it demands discipline, leadership and perseverance. Yet, they have never allowed obstacles to hinder their journey. Instead, they have used every challenge as a motivation to push forward, embodying the spirit of true champions.
