Caballero to young guns: exploit opportunity to be better
Years ago, Julette Mae Marikit-Caballero, Janeth Ponte, Jusabelle Brillo, and Erika Verano were forces to be reckoned with in Cebu’s women volleyball.
They had the same physique as that of Brazilian volleyball stars; they had the spiking force that could rattle an entire coliseum and drum up a crowd like Cebu has never seen before.
The competitive years of these ladies may have passed, and age and life may have caught up with them but their love and passion for volleyball remains.
And they were given a chance to once more visit their glory days when they teamed up to form the Study Call Poncas squad, which took part in the Mayor’s Cup volleyball tournament.
The team, organized by Caballero’s husband Karl Kristoff, was created so that these former collegiate stars can show the young guns their brand of volleyball.
Ponte and Brillo were both champions in Nestea Beach Volleyball. Marikit-Caballero is a stalwart from University of San Jose-Recoletos. Verano is a former University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) standout. Ivy Abella is from the University of the Visayas, while Chandrina Tumabang is a former Southwestern University player. They were joined by Angelie Bacalso from STC, Johana Joventud, and Mary Louise Querubin in the team.
“It feels great to compete again,” said Ponte, who is an Australia-based chef and now back in the Philippines to lend her volleyball expertise by officiating for the Philippine National Games. Caballero added that competing against the younger breed of players brings back memories of when they were the cream of Cebu’s volleyball crop.
“We did have a great time back in the day. I can see the same competitive drive of the younger players as what we had before. But volleyball is so huge in the country right now, especially with semi-commercial tournaments in Manila. So players must use this opportunity for them to improve if they want to make it big in the sport. We did not have as many competitions like these before,” Caballero added.
Ponte, for her part, said that she is happy to see that volleyball players now get more support from their schools and are getting exposure in events like the Mayor’s Cup.
“Daku kaayo kausaban karon.
They get support from their schools and there are more tournaments for exposure and it will help them improve as athletes so they should take advantage of these tournaments,” Ponte added. /