On the court, Akari's Faith Nisperos is as driven as ever. But off it, she’s a self-proclaimed bookworm, travel enthusiast, and sitcom lover.
In a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on r/SportsPH, hosted by One Sports, Nisperos opened up about her volleyball journey, the challenges she has faced, and her ultimate dream of becoming an import.
She also shared her favorite TV shows, travel destinations, and the lessons she has learned along the way.
Here are some of Faith’s answers.
Question: Share a particular challenge you’ve encountered in your career and how you overcame it.
Faith: I guess something na a lot of people know na na-encounter ko is yung sa sobrang tagal kong naglalaro. I think at some point, nagkaroon rin ako ng limit na how to handle the pressure, the expectations, and syempre it took a toll on me mentally.
The way na na-overcome ko siya is syempre, asking for help, seeking help and also helping yourself. ‘Yun ‘yung pinaka importante kasi ginusto kong maging okay ako and I met a lot of people who wanted to help me as well and I’m very thankful for them. I think having a support system would be better.
Question: Looking ahead, meron ka bang goals for yourself both your professional volleyball career and personal life?
Faith: Ako professionally, gusto ko talaga, pinaka-end goal ko talaga is maging import sa ibang bansa. ‘Yun ang pinaka-end goal for me. Ako na-achieve ko na naging Alas Pilipinas na ako and next goal ko naman is makatuntong internationally as an import from the Philippines.
Hopefully, I get to that level someday. In my personal life, I guess the goal I want is to be stable na I have a house I can go home to and syempre savings—to be stable na it could sustain me for the future.
Question: Do you love traveling and if so, where is the best place to go to?
Faith: Kung kaya talaga ng oras, or every time may free time, I really love to travel and syempre, go to ko talaga is Elyu (La Union), that’s where I found out na my love for surfing.
If may gusto man akong puntahan internationally, it would be Japan talaga. Iba ‘yung culture doon. It’s just different ‘yun ‘yung gusto kong klaseng calmness na hindi ko ma-experience dito.
Question: Kung hindi ka naging volleyball player, what would you be instead?
Faith: I guess from before, know ‘yung hobbies ko from before–-I like to read, I like to study so I guess I’ll be some kind of academic. I think I’ll go—I’ll follow the footsteps of my mom; she was a programmer. So, I guess my love for computers would you know eventually be there.
Question: What aspects of your game would you love to improve?
Faith: Ako definitely, my receive, my defense, even my blockings. Basta anything on the defensive side, I’d like to improve kasi I’ve been thought to be an attacker, and point maker so this time, being under coach Taka [Minowa], he’s focusing on me becoming more of a complete player.
I’m pretty glad na coach Taka as a Japanese coach, syempre ang dami kong matututunan sa kanya on that part. Those are the aspects of the game that I’d like to improve.
Question: What are your favorite TV shows and movies?
Faith: Ako pinaka go-to ko talaga is is Big Bang Theory. When I was 10 [years old], pinapanood ko na siya and I guess the humor of it, medyo na ge-gets ko kaya tuwang tuwa din ako.
Another go-to of mine is Brooklyn 99, sobrang – it gets me so I really love that.
Sobrang dami eh. Meron pang How I Met Your Mother, Superstore, The Good Place, like ilang beses ko nang inuulit yung mga yan, It’s my comfort go to series.
Sa mga movies, anything under the Marvel Universe. I’d love that but I think ‘yung pinaka favorite ko talaga is yung Avengers: Endgame.
I guess I’d like to add din any Disney movies. Like recently, I’ve watched Hercules—yung mga superhero movies, yung Mulan. Right before the semis, I watched those movies.
Question: What are your preferred game-day shoes?
Faith: Ako kasi, whatever my feet need kasi flatfooted ako and I have this plantar fasciitis na I struggle with kaya dati gustong gusto ko talaga mag Nike shoes pero ngayon, what my foot needs dun ako mag-stick muna.
Question: Minsan po ba naisip mong lumipat ng ibang team?
Faith: Syempre as a volleyball player, you cant be always close minded kasi syempre maiisip mo din, ako naiisip ko lang what would the system be like in other teams and siyempre ano 'yung matututunan ko from them.
Lilipat ng team? Hindi ko pa naiisip ‘yun but definitely, I like studying, like learning new things kaya still an option naman for the future.
Question: What’s your advice to young aspiring volleyball players?
Faith: Ang lagi ko naming sinasabi kasi is loving the sport is really important kasi once you love the sports, hindi mo maiisip yung hirap, ‘yung pagod and maiisip mo na lahat ng pinagdadaanan mo, may mararating ka as long as you love doing what you do.