Volleyball star Aby Maraño on missing out on national team: 'No hard feelings'

Former De La Salle University Lady Spikers' captain and current Meralco Power Spiker Abigail Maraño was rendered ineligible for the 2015 Asian Under-23 Women's Volleyball Championship because of the tournament's age restriction.

 

In an interview with GMA News Online, Maraño said the birthday cut-off for aspiring participants is January 1, 1993, making her nine days too old for the tournament.

 

“Nasayangan ako, siyempre, sa chance na makapaglaro para sa bansa at ipakita 'yung talento ng mga Pilipino. Pero marami pang better plans for me, so okay naman ako. No hard feelings. Accept lang, kasi official naman. Hindi naman ako pinolitika,” she said.

 

Despite the disqualification, the volleyball player remains positive and even has a bet for who should take her spot in the tournament: former Adamson University volleyball player and her current Meralco teammate Faye Janelle Guevara.

 

Maraño believes that Guevara has matured as a player and has pushed herself to make use of her full potential as an athlete.

 

"Mahusay na rin siya. Nakita ko siya from her young age. Siguro nung rookie year niya, medyo hilaw pa, pero habang tumatagal, nakikita kong nakakapag-running spike na, marunong nang mag-block, magaling na talaga," Maraño said.

 

In line with this, Maraño pushes for the discovery of various athletic talents that are currently overlooked because of the overexposure of other players and teams.

 

"Madami kasing players sa Pilipinas na hindi nadi-discover kasi kung sino lang 'yung kilala sa larangan, sila lang 'yung parating option. Dapat subukang salain 'yung mga manlalaro sa Pilipinas. Sa probinsiya, meron diyan na mas competitive pa kaysa sa mga nandito sa Manila. Hindi lang nadi-discover," she said. —JST, GMA News