‘MORE DETERMINED, PASSIONATE’ FAITH NISPEROS THRILLED TO FLY HIGH WITH AKARI

‘MORE DETERMINED, PASSIONATE’ FAITH NISPEROS THRILLED TO FLY HIGH WITH AKARI

 

It came as a huge surprise for the Philippine volleyball community when Faith Nisperos, one of the top spikers in the collegiate level, announced Tuesday morning that she will be foregoing her remaining eligibility in the UAAP and join Akari in the Premier Volleyball League.

The big change in her career path came only a few weeks after her team, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, crashed out of the Final Four race and finished Season 85 in sixth place for the first time in at least a decade.

Nisperos, however, is no newbie when it comes to big career moves.

Before transferring to Katipunan, she first spent her high school years with Nazareth School of National Universiry where she won championships and multiple MVP awards with the school’s girls’ volleyball team.

“It is me wanting to get better,” Nisperos said, talking about the thirst to always find out what else is out there for her.

“Napagdaanan ko na rin kasi na every time I go out of my comfort zone there is something na nadadagdag sa’kin. Kaya it’s really more of going out there, explore, looking for ano pa ang makaka-challenge sa’kin,” she added.

According to the outside hitter, seven club teams including Akari tried to woo her into signing with them but in the end, she chose to be a Charger.

The reason in one word? Stability.

“Importante sa’kin na may plano. I liked when they showed me ‘yung plans nila for the team and for the program. I really liked the stability of it. Alam kong may mapupuntahan. More than two years ang plano nila and for me, that’s stability,” shared the Davaoeña.

Nisperos will be joining veterans Dindin Santiago and Bang Pineda on Akari’s side as well as former teammates Dani Ravena, Jaja Maraguinot, and Erika Raagas.

The Chargers, who happens to be the youngest team in the league, will be continuing their hunt for their first semis appearance since the team’s formation late last year.

Ask what she can bring to the table, Nisperos humbly says grit, a life skill she learned in Katipunan.

“Resilience. My journey with Ateneo grabe ang ups and downs. Rollercoaster (ride) talaga ‘yun. I had to learn the hard way how to pick-up myself and how to help others pick themselves up din,” she said.

Also on Nisperos’ side are Akari team captain Mich Cobb and Brazilian head coach Jorge Souza de Brito whom she played under a couple of years back for the national team.

Having no regrets and feeling ready to move forward, she now soaks in the new environment she is in as Akari lights her path even brighter towards greatness.

“Coming from last season na heartbreaking, I guess going into the PVL I will be a Faith Nisperos na more determined and more passionate kasi I missed being in that environment,” she closed.