Fresh off her exhilarating journey with the national team at the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup for Women in Indonesia, Faith Nisperos, the highly-touted rookie, stepped onto the court for her much-anticipated debut in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) with Akari.
The expectations were sky-high, but Nisperos' debut proved to be a modest one.
On a Saturday evening at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, the Chargers succumbed to a formidable PLDT squad, losing in straight sets with scores of 25-15, 25-19, and 25-22. Unfortunately, Nisperos made minimal impact on the scoring front.
Considered one of the brightest prospects in the league, the young open spiker managed to accumulate five points throughout the match, despite starting in all three sets.
Rather than dwelling on the less-than-ideal start, Nisperos viewed her debut as a positive learning experience, helping her identify the areas in which she needs to improve.
"I've been working on some of my skills, and I could say that I've slowly been able to showcase them. I'm looking at this as a positive experience, as it has shown me what I need to work on after this game," expressed the 5-foot-11 rookie.
"As an open hitter who is expected to excel in all aspects, I believe I need to improve my defensive skills and, of course, my blocking as well."
Meanwhile, head coach Jorge Souza de Brito lauded Nisperos' performance in her professional volleyball debut. The Brazilian tactician emphasized that this is merely the beginning for Nisperos, highlighting the vast room for growth and development.
"Every journey starts at a particular point. You start at this level today and always aim higher. I'm confident that this is just the beginning," stated De Brito, who also serves as the coach for the Philippine women's national volleyball team.
"I'm quite certain that she will significantly enhance her skills in all aspects. She didn't play poorly. She played well, really, really well."
Fortunately, time is on Nisperos' side as the PVL will observe a nine-day break to accommodate the Volleyball Nations League, which will be hosted by the Philippines in the upcoming week.
During this interval, Nisperos and the entire Akari squad will intensify their training and studies, striving to deliver a stronger performance in their next game scheduled for July 11 against Chery Tiggo.
In this highly-anticipated match, Nisperos will face familiar adversaries such as Eya Laure, Princess Robles, Imee Hernandez, Jen Nierva, and Joyme Cagande. All of these players successfully transitioned to the professional level prior to the Invitational Conference, much like the talented product of Ateneo de Manila University.
"We can seize this opportunity to train, study, and embrace time as our ally. That's what we're aiming to do – to study and train," said the 23-year-old Davaoeña, displaying her determination to continuously improve and make a mark in the league.
As Faith Nisperos embarks on her promising journey in the Premier Volleyball League, her modest debut serves as a stepping stone towards greater heights.
