Akari's Ysa Bakabak: From campus journalist to pro athlete

The Akari Chargers recently signed a free agent in De La Salle University's (DLSU) Ysa Bakabak.

Bakabak, a 21-year old middle blocker, was not part of DLSU's official competing team in collegiate leagues despite being in the training pool. 

However, she still took a risk in applying in the inaugural Premier Volleyball League draft.

"First of all, I'm just really grateful kasi considering after I joined the draft, I became a free agent so I wasn't drafted but then Akari showed interest and chose me so they let me sign," Bakabak told GMA News Online.

Bakabak's name was not called during the draft, but for her, she knows what she can contribute to a team.

"Parang it (being undrafted) wasn't really a big deal [for me] kasi I also thought maybe they only picked those who had big names and for me, I know I wasn't able to play in collegiate level so I know I had no exposure to playing in the public," she said.

"I know my potential and I was really confident about it. Even though I wasn't able to play at the collegiate level, it doesn't mean I can't play at the professional level. It's more [about] believing in myself and what I can do that's why I decided to join."

From covering the games to being covered in the games

Bakabak's signing also seemed like a full-circle moment as she will now be covered in the pro leagues instead of covering the sport -- a task she does as a member of student publication 'The LaSallian.'

Apart from being a player, Bakabak's interest in science and sports was one of the reasons why she started dabbling into writing back in her high school days.

"I decided to join [The LaSallian] because I've also been part of my high school paper. It started as wanting to become a better writer since my only interests were science and sports, so I became a sports writer," she recalled.

"The pandemic happened, everything was still online so that's when I decided to apply for The LaSallian."

Her knowledge in sports and her access to athletes have also been crucial in being a campus journalist.

"I thought at first it's gonna be difficult because I'm writing about my peers so there's tendency to have biases and what not, but it actually became easier because I'm also closer to my teammates, so I get to interview them. I get to help out with my publication as well because it's [sometimes] hard to reach out athletes in school so it's a big help so I get to bridge them."

Now a pro athlete, her campus media hat still helps her in being a better player.

"It helps in my sports in a way that when I cover games, I'm able to analyze games, put my insights on it as well and I guess that kind of helps me as an athlete because I'm exposed to different plays, different schools, it adds knowledge to my sports."

However, she still needs to get used to being in the spotlight, instead of working on the sidelines.

"I guess, it feels exciting but at the same time, it feels weird, because usually I am the one who does the interview," she said candidly. "This is just all very new to me."

More than being an athlete and campus journalist

Bakabak, however, is not limited to those two hats.

She is also a pre-med student, currently in her fourth year of taking a bachelor's degree in Psychology.

Asked what her career path would look like, Bakabak said she actually plans to take medicine in the future.

"So for my career path, since I'm taking up a pre-med course, my goal is to go to med school," she said.

Bakabak said she can still put in the work in her pro career as she still has a year or two before taking the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) and eventually getting into medicine proper.

While her pro career may eventually take a back seat, Bakabak said going into medicine is more of her long-term plan.

And a possible career in journalism?

"I have thought about it, but it still depends. Maybe, it can be my Plan B if I don't pursue med school, but it's just that I have so many hobbies but I'm glad I have many options. For now, it's just med school. That's my goal."

Whatever career she may choose, one thing's for sure: Bakabak's experiences will help her as she charts her own path to success.

—GMA Integrated News