ILOCOS NORTE -- Ging Balse-Pabayo almost skipped Black Mamba-Army's Open Conference campaign in the Premier Volleyball League.
Due to volleyball's inactivity for over a year, the 38-year-old Army sergeant was close to hanging up her jersey.
But Pabayo can't say no to her beloved sport after seeing all the top clubs in the first-ever professional volleyball league.
"Kasi nung una talaga parang naggive up na ko, parang hindi muna ako maglaro ganun, pero nung time na yun hindi nawala sa akin yung pagvo-volleyball ko parang dugo na talaga sa akin," she said
"Nagtry ako magtraining muna tapos biglang niline up ako ni coach. Sabi ko, 'Sige challenge 'to kung kaya ko pa naman sarili ko, ng katawan ko at ng isip ko, go ako.' Ngayon hindi naman one-hundred-percent na physically fit pero gagawin ko yung best ko para makatulong sa kanila."
The 38-year-old middle blocker still got it as she nailed the game-winning attacks to lift Black Mamba-Army past BaliPure, 25-16, 25-27, 25-21, 26-24, on Tuesday at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center here in Bacarra.
"Sobrang laki din ng tiwala nila sa sarili ko. Ginawa ko lang yung best ko siguro, matagal na tayo naglalaro kumbaga ano na yung gamay mo. Hindi naman sila nagdadalawang isip na (ibigay yung bola)," she said. "Parang gaan, matagal na kami magkakakilala alam na namin yung galaw ng isa't isa kaya kumapit talaga kami."
Pabayo's career has come full circle as she played and won a title for University of Santo Tomas in the inaugural 2004 Shakey's V-League and now, she's part of PVL's maiden professional conference.
"Ito na yung start ng volleyball. Paunti unti para yung mga bagong batang gusto pumasok sa volleyball sana tuloy tuloy na to," she said. "Sobrang saya kasi biglang dinagdagan ulit ngayon na yung PVL naging professional na siya yung tipong. Nagisa na lahat ng teams."
Pabayo said Black Mamba-Army is ready to give it all in its biggest and most challenging tournament.
"Mas challenging ngayon. Sobra kasi maraming batang malalakas pa sa atin at siyempre dati ibang iba. Pero ako naman masaya ako kasi gusto ko yung malalakas na kalaban, challenge yan para sa sarili mo at para sa team namin," she said. (AL)
