With the return of the International School Athletics Conference (ISAC) after 2 years of absence last October 22, hosted by the British School of Manila (BSM), the women's volleyball athletes of Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) scored a triumphant comeback since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beating Cebu International School (CIS) 2-1, SISC won the ISAC 2022 Girls Volleyball Games — the school's fourth consecutive victory in the said tournament. The school also overcame BSM and Brent International School Baguio (BISB) prior to the championship round.
Chiara Peñera, Kassandra Galing, Sophia Oblena, Chrizel Gabriel, Katrina Aguirre, Yannie Macasieb, Blair Delos Santos, Amanda Balneg, Mariella Caco, and Athena Sullano represented SISC with pride as the winning team. Coach Jack Locquiao trained the lady Monarchs for hours of competitive combat.
The Mover has reached out to Chiara and Chrizel, who offered their time to recall their journey in this year’s ISAC tournament. The athletes described their preparations, challenges, and experiences throughout the inter-school event.
Mental and physical preparation
The news of ISAC's return was both nerve-racking and exciting for SISC’s delegation. Chiara, a tenth grader who led as Team Captain, stated that ISAC’s comeback made her thrilled yet anxious due to its sudden arrival.
Chrizel, a senior athlete who is also serving as the Student Council STEM Representative, remarked that she was enthusiastic and grateful about the return of ISAC, and it was especially notable for being her final inter-school tournament as a Monarch athlete. She said, “It’s my last year on the varsity team, so I have to exert everything while I enjoy the sport that I love, which is volleyball.”
Even before the official line-up for SISC’s delegation was selected, Chiara and Chrizel prepared physically and mentally to build their capabilities and confidence to compete. Continuous conditioning exercises, volleyball skill practices, and matched tune-ups were some of the important training they did. ISAC training not only involved skill but also strategic thinking and confident collaboration in the court.
Chiara prioritized blocking out negativity to focus on her goal of winning and how she’ll perform. The Team Captain mentioned that her physical preparations included consistent conditioning and maintenance of a balanced diet and rest to keep her body healthy.
Chrizel, who believed that preparation requires effort and discipline, said that “being able to be surrounded by a supportive atmosphere, have the time to work out and have a balanced diet, and seek guidance from God were the things that made me prepare for the tournament.”
‘Overwhelming pressure’
SISC’s delegation faced challenges in the tournament. As competing athletes, they trained a lot of full-body strength and endurance to remain strong and active throughout rigorous training. Preparations for ISAC spanned just a month, so everyday practices were needed for the athletes. Chrizel remarked that she felt the weight and gravity of having to prepare and train for only that short span.
In addition to the short practice time, the athletes had to balance it with their academic performance. Nonetheless, challenges were conquered as these monarchs were determined to represent their school well while excelling in academics. Chiara went on to say, “My teammates and I felt the overwhelming pressure knowing that SISC had a 3-year peat championship and the work we needed in our academics.''
‘Always uplift one another’
The victory at ISAC was a triumphant and cherished moment for SISC. After everything that had happened, the lady Monarchs returned home in celebration of their teamwork and hard-earned victory. Chrizel emphasized, “Bringing home the trophy back home to our school was my proudest and most cherished moment during this competition.”
It was not only about the matches and victories but the memories gained developing teamwork and unity through sportsmanship. For Chiara, her favorite memories were the team talks and Coach Jack’s motivational words. “My proudest moment will always be the team celebrating every win — the cheering, the clapping, and the huddles [encouraged] everyone to play better,” she added.
She added that Coach Jack’s lessons to her team were to be coachable, disciplined, and humble as these are life lessons for self-improvement. “From my teammates, I learned to always uplift one another. Always encourage each other to do better,” she also said.
Chrizel learned from her final ISAC to do her very best every moment, putting her best foot forward to rid away any possible regrets. She underscored, “You should begin first by trusting yourself. Believe in your capability and have faith in your teammate.”
For the whole volleyball team, the lessons they learned were as valuable as the championship they earned. Beyond sports, their experiences throughout ISAC continue to grow their learning and interpersonal development.
If you are interested in joining varsity and in the opportunity to represent SISC in tournaments, the coaches of the Athletics Department are continuously looking for new recruits. Varsity training happens 3 times a week from 5:00-7:00 pm. For inquiries, contact Coach Rory Mansbridge via email at rory_mansbridge@southville.edu.ph.
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