When she was a young kid, Sam Tiratira preferred not to engage in anything physical. Instead, she would play chess or other games that did not require much physical activity.
But given her exceptional height, Tiratira was convinced by her high school coaches in Morong, Rizal to give volleyball a shot, which she eventually did.
And it so happened that her previous coaches have links to current Arellano University women's volleyball shot caller Obet Javier.
Under Javier, Tiratira is slowly rising as one of the promising middle blockers in the NCAA Season 100. And she credited the guidance given to her by the veteran tactician with her rise.
"Ayoko po talaga ng sports, I mean ‘yung parang pinapawisan," Tiratira told GMA News Online.
"Sayang daw po kasi ‘yung height ko, nasasayangan po sila," she added.
"Nung high school pinilit po ako ng mga coaches sa Morong then ayun po nagtuloy-tuloy po ako. Dati po kasi ang nilalaro ko ay chess at mga mobile games."
[I didn't really like sports. I didn't like sweating... But they said I'd be wasting my height.... In high school, I was convinced by my coaches in Morong and I just continued from there. Before, what I'd play was chess and mobile games.]
But Javier's patience and faith in Tiratira is paying off as she willed the Lady Chiefs to a massive 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 25-20 victory over the previously unbeaten Colegio de San Juan de Letran last Saturday.
Her performance, though, should come as no surprise as Javier is known for developing middle blockers in the collegiate scene. In the past, Javier produced a number of quality middle blockers like Mikaela Juanich, Dodee Batindaan, Lorraine Pecaña, and Season 98 1st Best Middle Blocker Trina Abay.
And Tiratira hopes to make every game count moving forward.
"Sa Morong, Rizal po kasi ako naglalaro talaga. Nu’ng senior high school, Grade 11, kinuha po ako ni Coach Obet. Bale pang-third year ko po ngayon," the rookie added.
"Malaki po naitulong niya kasi po siya, tough love po siya. Ako po talaga laging pinapagalitan niya pero ‘yun nga po, sabi po niya, ‘tignan mo lahat ng pagalit ko sayo napaganda ‘yung laro mo.’"
[I started playing in Morong Rizal, when I was in senior high school, Grade 11, I was recruited by Coach Obet. This is my third year now... He's been a big help for me, his tough love. I'm always being scolded by him but as he said, 'look, because of all my scolding, you're now playing better.']
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
