De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde secured the commitment of rising star JV Estrada as the school prepares for the future of its men's volleyball program in the NCAA.
The 6-foot-3 Estrada, who had spent the past three years training with the reigning UAAP champion National University Bulldogs, decided to bring his act to Taft where he is tipped to boost the Blazers' title bid.
Estrada will serve a one-year residency and will be available to suit up in Season 101 next year.
"“Yung sakripisyo po na umalis sa Quezon at makipagsapalaran sa Maynila ay dahil sa pangarap ko po na makapaglaro sa collegiate leagues na may higher level of training program and game," the youthful middle blocker said.
"Kaya po ngayon na nabigyan po ako ng pagkakataon ng Benilde makapaglaro sa NCAA , pagtatrabahuhan ko po talaga at bibitbitin lahat po ng natutunan ko sa mga dati kong coaches and teammates para po masuklian ko din 'yung tiwalang binigay nila sa'kin.”
[The sacrifice of leaving Quezon to take my chances in Manila is because of my dream to play in the collegiate leagues that have a higher level of training program and game... Now that I've been given the opportunity by Benilde to play in the NCAA, I will work hard and bring everything I learned from my old coaches and teammates to pay back the trust they place in me.]
Estarada's decision to come to Benilde was influenced by former Benilde standout John Vic de Guzman. Both players are under the same management.
De Guzman, of course, is a renowned icon in Benilde after steering the school to its first and only title so far back in Season 92, when the Blazers swept powerhouse University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in their best-of-thee finals series. De Guzman was also named MVP in that title romp.
"Nakita ko yung potential at sipag nu'ng bata na matuto at makapaglaro. Kaya sinabi ko sa kanya na subukan mag-try out sa CSB dahil alam ko na maalagaan siya nang mabuti doon," De Guzman shared.
"Bukod sa parehas kami ng pangalan, parehas din kaming napalayo sa pamilya para sa pangarap kagaya nu'ng nagsisimula pa lang ako. Kaya sabi ko sa kanya pagbutihin niya lang.”
[I've seen the potential and work ethic of the kid to learn and to play. So I told him to try out at CSB because I know he will be taken care of there... Aside from having the same name, we share the journey of being away from family to pursue our dream, just like when I first started out. I told him to just do his best.]
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News
