Ysay Marasigan is one of the best volleybal player in ADMU or also known as ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY . To molify his father who was opposing who is decision to enroll in Ateneo on volleyball scholarship, Ysay Marasigan sincerely promises to present to him his university diploma .And exactly five years later at the end of his UAAP playing years, Marasigan, who’s turning 22 in September, also graduated with a degree in AB Interdisciplinary Studies.     

To the diploma that surely made the senior Marasigan burst with more pride for the oldest of his five children, Ysay this year added more of his sterling accomplishments in sports – a second straight UAAP title with the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the UAAP Finals MVP trophy, a silver-medal finish with Cignal TV in his first ever appearance in a commercial league (the Spikers’ Turf Season 2-Open Conference), and just recently, a bronze medal with Ateneo in the ASEAN University Games in Singapore.   

In what could possibly be his last tournament for his alma mater, Ysay is returning to the second season of Spikers’ Turf’s Collegiate Conference which starts this Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.      

He describes his experience in the league’s Open Conference as different and very challenging.

“In the UAAP or in any other interschool competition hereabouts, I was considered one of the veterans. In Spikers’ Turf I was the rookie,” he said.

He’s thankful that players like him whose school playing years are over now have Spikers’ Turf to look forward to. He calls for more backings for the league which gets consistent support from Accel as official outfitter and Mikasa as official ball.        

Since arriving from the University Games in Singapore on July 18, Ysay says he has been spending his time with his family in Batangas.“I enjoy just being with them in the house doing things together. Sometimes we eat out. I treasure every moment with my family before I go back to Manila, to my training.”

He trains for both Ateneo and Cignal now.

Another priority      

He’s honest enough to say that he has a different priority now, that he’s more focused on finding a job than on training and playing.

“Of course, I will play for as long as I am able but right now my No. 1 priority is to land a job so I could help my father, my family.”    

Looking back, Ysay recalls that his dad, a senior officer at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, had strongly dissuaded him from studying in Ateneo even on a full athletic scholarship.   

“Dad had vigorously opposed my playing for and studying in Ateneo,” says Ysay, “Sa Batangas na lang daw ako maglaro at mag-aral. Pangmayaman daw ang Ateneo at dahil maliit lang ang sahod, wala raw siyang itutustos sa akin o idadagdag masyado sa allowance ko.”

In the end, it was left to Ysay to make the final decision. He moved to Ateneo.

“The initial adjustments were difficult, from provincial to city living, from studying in public schools to a very exclusive one, but I made them nonetheless. At first I just stood in the background, observed and blended.”

Since Day One on the Katipunan campus, Ysay adhered to his court-school-court-dorm routine. He had little social life to speak of, if ever there was one to talk about, opting to spend much of his free time in the athletes’ dorm either to rest or study or both. He’s not one to waste time as he was doggedly focused on earning his university diploma in four or five years.     

How did this six-foot, quiet Batangueno come to the attention of the Ateneo talent scouts?      

By accident, he says.

There never was a word reaching far and wide about this student of the tough University of Batangas Science High School who was playing good volleyball then. Then Ateneo coach Mario Mia, now mentor of the Mapua men’s volleyball squad, was moonlighting as a referee in the Universities, Schools and Colleges Athletic Association (USCAA) meet when he chanced upon Ysay playing for his high school.

Mia liked what he saw and lost no time recruiting Ysay for the Blue Eagles squad. He talked to Ysay’s parents and listened to the senior Marasigan’s deep reservations.

“When coach Mia left our house,” says Isay, “that’s when my father started to oppose my joining Ateneo.”      

On his first three years on the Katipunan team, he played both beach and indoor volleyball and the quicker position in the latter. On his fourth year, coach Oliver Almadro made him shift from middle attacker to utility spiker, a position he is deadliest now; even his backline attacks are to be reckoned with.      

Ysay says he had improved by leaps and bounds under coach Almadro.     

“Don’t just listen to your coach, follow what he tells you to do and you’ll be okay,” he advises volleyball wannabes who want to find their niche in the sport like him .