ONCE again, it’s the time for the National Prisaa. This time, Koronadal in the South hosts. About a decade ago, most athletes in the Cordilleras could only dream of participating in a nationwide collegiate athletic competition. I say most because only a few doors to some sports events on the national level were then open or accessible.
State college and universities in the Cordilleras like the Benguet State University (BSU) were exceptions.
Looking back, competing in the national level was like a birthright for these SCUAA member schools. After dismissing contenders in the region like MPSPC, they would proceed to the National State College and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) competition.
I remember an occasion when young Cordillera softbelles were invited to an exhibition game during the Foundation Day of the Pangasinan State University (PSU), I could never forget the young ladies’ facial expressions on this particular engagement.
To leave the comforts of the cool highland weather to play under the heat of the sun, they were glad and excited. Arriving at the PSU grounds to start the game and play against the hosts, their facial expressions changed when the tournament emcee announced that a few of their players were national players.
I was just as overwhelmed. Every player who is a national player is an honor. In my context, a national player would be one who is a member of the national team.
For softball, this would be the Asian strong and famous Philippines’ Blu Girls.
After CAR college softbelles peppered the hosts with hits, scored at will and won the exhibition game despite national players in their roster, we begun to realize from our exchanges with the hosts how highly they esteem their athletes’ participation in national competitions. We eventually discovered that a number of PSU players had been part of a delegation for a national competition such as the National SCUAA. Hence, those softbelles were labelled national players.
Today, a group of former battle scarred and overachieving Cordillera softbelles whose prior claims to success were merely to participate in a national tournament during their secondary (high school) years can only reminisce.
The National Collegiate Games of Prisaa in Naga was their first exposure in the national limelight. In this particular national Prisaa tournament for softball, there were eleven teams. The then UAAP and Prisaa defending champions, University of Sto. Tomas for NCR was present and led the prestigious field.
There was also the University of Mindanao for Davao Region, a softball powerhouse and was a perennial bridesmaid to UST. Ilocos Region which placed third before Naga was also there. Yet in this tournament, the greenhorns from the Cordilleras earned a bronze each after almost upsetting University of Mindanao (1-2) for the right to enter the finals’ pairing.
In retrospect, the young Cordillera softbelles led by Maricel Urbano, Lasley Tamiking and ten others were not supposed to be there. On this year when the door of reconciliation with the National Prisaa officials were opened, the Cordilleras’ dominant, favorite and media-genic volleyball team suffered academic ineligibilities and did not have enough players available to compete for the National Collegiate Games in Naga.
By a stroke of fate, the proverbial grace of Divine Providence and a freshly earned silver medal in a national competition in Cagayan de Oro as a feather in our cap, we were advised by a mere SMS to pack on short notice. One would expect jubilation to the highest heavens but the emotions of the young softball ladies who just completed their regular practice in the city’s Athletic Bowl who heard the news were contained. They were skeptical for a good reason.
Softball, most in the corridors knew was never a favorite of the administration’s or the athletic director’s. How was it that we could be accorded the distinction to represent the Cordilleras. Some of the ladies had asked, “Since when did the administration favor a bunch of heat loving, dirt scraping and dust inhaling softball women’s team to represent the region?”
Perhaps today, they can laugh more confidently that this is beyond them now. After placing third in their first exposure in the National Collegiate Games in Naga, CAR collegiate softbelles never missed a medal, be it bronze, silver or gold winning each game with honor for softball. We proved our local haters wrong.
Many hold that Cordillera basketball and volleyball had not had such consistency in winning at the same Prisaa National Collegiate Games.
By countless strokes of fate, the boundless grace of Divine Providence and a resolute faith only shared by those who grew under one simple man’s dreams, Cordillera softball achieved more than a milestone.
More than the bronzes, silvers and the solitary gold achieved, a handful lives were meaningfully changed by adversity and challenges within and without the diamond. Our memories scarred by adversity and scorn are now laced with rare distinctions never achieved still for the game of softball in the highlands.
While colleges and universities of the Prisaa troop to the National Collegiate Games as of this writing, may the Cordilleras never forget they once had such an overachieving ladies’ softball squad.
CAR softball may be absent in Koronadal but I still get inquiries why they aren’t there? Maybe the competing coaches remember the Cordilleran demeanor, a silent swagger not by word alone but by performing that exceeded expectations. Or the humble smile after the game.
If by any chance they should be branded as “national” players, I pray you won’t accept that. They are not although some could have been just as competent. While they may be not, I am certain that they are in a different league of their own. For this reason, this is my hashtag - #FromNevertoFirstEver.