Roma Mae Doromal made sure to leave with no regrets as her time with Ateneo and the UAAP has officially ended.
A dream that turned into a reality.
Roma Mae Doromal has officially signed off from her collegiate volleyball career after UAAP Season 86 has drawn to a close.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, the 23-year-old libero reflected on her journey, starting from humble beginnings to achieving her dream of playing for Ateneo de Manila University.
"It all started as a dream. A dream I thought I would never reach," Doromal wrote on her Instagram post.
Doromal reminisced about her early days, recalling how she wasn't initially the player schools sought after. Despite the odds, her unwavering desire to play for Ateneo drove her to take a leap of faith.
“I bravely went through the process and tried out for the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball team, trusting God that despite the odds—despite me not being the best that there is, I took a leap of faith,” said Doromal.
“It’s quite difficult to be admitted in Ateneo, but by God’s grace, I was chosen,” she added.
Doromal’s time with the Blue Eagles was marked by notable achievements and personal growth. She vividly remembered her first game and the surreal experience of playing in the UAAP, describing it as the moment her high school dream became a reality.
Reflecting on the ups and downs of her career, Doromal expressed gratitude for her teammates and the Ateneo management, highlighting the collective efforts that led to a podium finish in Season 84.
In that run, Ateneo went on a near-miraculous run in the stepladder semifinals, beating Adamson University and the University of Santo Tomas, before ultimately bowing to De La Salle University in the stepladder round 2.
Season 85, however, was heartbreaking for the Blue Eagles. They finished in sixth place with a 4-10 record, missing out on the Final Four for the first time since Season 71.
[ALSO READ: Ateneo out of UAAP women’s volleyball Final Four for the first time in over a decade]
Despite this, Doromal stayed committed to the team and was even chosen to lead the young, rebuilding Ateneo squad in Season 86.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Roma Mae Doromal embraces leadership in rebuilding Blue Eagles]
The Blue Eagles, led by promising spikers Lyann De Guzman and Sobe Buena, managed to finish in fifth place despite what many assumed would be a lost season.
“We may have not secured the Final Four slot, but I have no regrets because, for me, my team was a success,” said Doromal.
“As a libero-captain, I may not be able to contribute to the scoreboard with points, but supporting my teammates with their roles and purpose in and out of the court gives me joy to be used as God’s instrument of helping them be all that they can be,” she added.
[ALSO READ: "Nakita ko 'yung purpose ko" | Roma Mae Doromal gets honest on decision to stay with Ateneo for Season 86]
It might not have been the farewell ending she had hoped for, but Doromal will clearly leave behind a legacy of leadership and inspiration in Ateneo.
“The journey was not easy; it was not perfect, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. And without all the people who were there for me, I really wouldn’t be able to do it,” said Doromal.
“I am Roma Mae Doromal, wearing jersey number 19, your S86 captain with a strong mind. Now signing off.”