Abigail Maraño: The captain of all ages

Her curriculum vitae includes the UAAP Season 74 and 75 MVP, the UAAP Season 75 Best Blocker, and three consecutive UAAP championships.

With all these titles under her name, the DLSU Lady Spikers’ team captain Abigail Maraño is one of the best and most respected volleyball players in recent history. If there is one reason behind all of these achievements, perhaps that is Maraño’s deep love and passion for the sport.

“I’m really a passionate athlete of De La Salle. Even before, I was really a competitive one. So when I entered La Salle, I told myself na I need to be competitive enough for me to survive here in this university,” Maraño shares.

Maraño shares how she felt clueless and inferior when she first arrived in DLSU as she saw many talented and great players ahead of her. However, Maraño proved that she too can be one of them. She did more than what was required of her, eventually bringing her to the successful state she is in now.

The veteran Maraño is known for her powerful running attacks, solid blocking, and exceptional leadership, but what makes her stand out even more is her untiring drive and energy which affects not only her teammates, but also their fans. “Yung pagiging passionate ko sa sport na ‘to, lumalabas yun every game and not even in games. Even in practices, we practice that energy also kasi what you practice is what will manifest in your games,” she shares.

Even without the instructions of their head coach Ramil De Jesus, Maraño never fails to show her energy and passion each time she steps inside the court. As the team captain, she believes that she needs to be more motivated in order to further inspire her teammates. “Sobrang ever since, talagang ganito yung reaction ko. Every point kasi sa volleyball, you need to rejoice kasi pinaghirapan mo yun eh,” she shares. Maraño continues, “Pag naglalaro ako as in nasa beast mode ako. Nagiging iba yung character ko when it comes to volleyball and of course ‘pag naka step nako sa volleyball court.”

The graduation of three well-known veterans was a big matter for the Taft-based squad. As the team captain, it took a while for Maraño to accept that she was the sole source of veteran leadership on the team. Maraño admittedly shares that at first it was a challenge for her to handle the team, but her responsibilities gradually lightened, thanks to their other senior players like Ara Galang and Mika Reyes.

Maraño feels happy that her other teammates are able to lead the team in their own way. “Yung team namin, I can say na collective lahat. Collective [yung] skills, collective talent yung meron and of course sa leadership, hindi lang isa [kundi] lahat kayang magdala,” she proudly says.

At times when her team is down in a match, expect to see Maraño rising up to lead her teammates, boosting their spirits to show the brand of play which earned them three consecutive UAAP titles. “Tinitignan ko talaga sila isa-isa sa mata kasi yung eye contact important for me yun kasi it’s a way for them to know your sincerity as a team captain. They will know that you’re a fighter,” says Maraño recalling their dramatic comeback win during last season’s Game One of the UAAP Finals against the ADMU Lady Eagles.

Confidence, composure, and teamwork are big factors as to why Maraño doesn’t have a hard time gaining the respect of her teammates. She adds, “Laban, puso, pride, alam na nila ‘yan eh. ‘Yun yung team namin.” Although Maraño has a never ending dialogue with her teammates inside the court, she remains relaxed as she trusts everyone and their abilities. Maraño shares, “As the team leader, you need to be the role model. You need to be the core of the team para ma-gel mo yung bawat isa.”

Aside from her UAAP achievements, Maraño, together with Ateneo’s Alyssa Valdez, was awarded by the Philippine Sportswriters Association as Miss Volleyball 2013. Maraño immediately thanked the Lord for having such an overwhelming and prestigious recognition. Serving as an inspiration for her to further excel in her sport, she is very grateful for receiving the award. “Ang sarap sa feeling na may ganito kaming award ngayon. Nag-add lang siya to our inspiration and motivation to play harder, [to] perform well and do so much more this time kasi you need to show [the] people that you’re really  deserving with that title,” says Maraño.

With her UAAP career coming to a close in a few months, Maraño strives hard to conclude it with a legendary four-peat crown. Embracing every moment of every match as if it was a championship finale, she just plays every game like it is her last.  Maraño grabs every opportunity to share and exhibit her talents both on and off the court.

“Focus lahat. All out ako this year,” the captain remarks.