When the PNVF released its 40-man men’s volleyball national team tryout pool last Wednesday, there were a few names unknown to many, raising questions of who those players are.
One of them was Leodie Vitente, listed in the opposite spiker pool alongside John Vic De Guzman, Ysay Marasigan, and Jao Umandal among others.
But some years back, the 20-year-old Vitente would never in his wildest dreams imagine being part of that elite group.
During the early part of his high school journey, he described himself as someone prone to sickness. He often ended up in the hospital, the reason why Vitente never got the chance to become a basketball varsity player — his first sport.
“Every time na maglalaro ako ng basketball dati, every game hindi na po ako makahinga dahil sa sobrang pagod. And kinabukasan after game, nanghihina na kasi parang sobrang sakitin ko po noon,” Vitente told Tiebreaker Times.
During Grade 10. Vitente learned how to play volleyball. Afterwards, he saw it as an opportunity to get better physically.
His initial purpose of playing the sport was to address his health. Little did he know it would give him an opportunity of a lifetime.
“Tinake ko po ‘yung volleyball para mas maging healthy and para ma-improve ‘yung sarili ko. Dahil sa volleyball, na-build ko ‘yung strength ko,” said the 6-foot-1 stalwart of Saint Louis University.
“Pangarap ko lang po maglaro para maging physically fit at para hindi maging sakitin. Hinding hindi pumasok sa isip ko na ma-iinvite ako sa national team tryout. Hindi ko rin pinangarap na makapunta ng Palarong Pambansa or makarating man lang ng regional meet kasi tinake ko lang talaga ‘yung volleyball para i-improve lang ‘yung health ko.”
But with his exceptional skills despite learning the sport late, Vitente became part of the La Salette of Jones Inc. men’s volleyball team. He also suited up for two Cagayan Valley Regional Athletics Association (CaVRAA) meets and one Palarong Pambansa.
And now with the biggest opportunity given to his young career, the spiker out of San Agustin, Isabela vows to leave it all during the tryout — while still not keeping his expectations high.
“Gagawin ko lang ‘yung best ko sa tryout.
“Hindi na siguro ako mag-aassume na makukuha ako, but I will try my very best. Ma-experience ko pa lang mag-tryout for our national team, okay na po ‘yun sa akin,” said Vitente.
Just being part of the tryout taking place on April 29 at Subic Gym would be a huge boost to the Mechanical Engineering major, because it would be the strongest opposition he would go against.
He shared that SLU only plays in the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) and a tournament where all schools by the CICM Missionaries collide with each other.
“Y’ung exposure po sa amin, kaunti lang ‘yung nakakalaro namin. Unlike sa NCAA and UAAP na marami silang nakakalarong ibang player na mas experienced din, sa amin kasi wala mostly kami-kami rin naglalaro.”
And with the chance to play alongside the country’s best players, Vitente will sponge in every little detail he can learn.
“Sobrang excited na maka-training at makasama mag-tryout ‘yung mga iniidolo ko kasi dati, isang fan lang naman po ako eh, fan nilang lahat. Pinapanood ko lang sila sa TV. Then ngayon makikita ko na sila sa personal and makakatraining na rin.”
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