One of the drawbacks of being a volleyball athlete is the attention it draws to your actions — whether on or off the court.
Especially in UAAP volleyball, where many fans are transfixed, players are usually forced to guard themselves from making mistakes, as the community can at times be unforgiving about a player’s shortcomings.
Among the usual suspects when it comes to criticism among supporters is the conversation about on-court emotions — from “swag” celebrations to displays of frustration after a tough loss, players are placed under a microscope for their actions.
Even when a player is at the top of their game, such as former Rookie-MVP Angel Canino and Adamson ace rookie Shaina Nitura, doubts could be placed on their character when they show too much emotions on the taraflex.
For Ateneo sports psychologist Juju Joseph, such criticism puts players in an unfair position, where people often forget that players are human too.
“[There’s] two sides of it, I think. Because even when it comes to anger, when it comes to grief… especially anger, a lot of people don't feel comfortable with it, and you're right to say that. People or the fans put their athletes on such a high standard. That they are perfect people, that they shouldn't make mistakes. Because they are at this level,” Joseph told One Sports.
“And do I feel that's kind of unfair. I'll be honest… Because they're also just people. They will make mistakes. They will get angry. They will get sad. And do we advocate each composure? Yes. But at the same time, sometimes you just have to let it out, you just have to let your emotions out,” she added.
Canino and Nitura were criticized for similar situations just recently. Angel drew comments on how she dealt with La Salle’s five-set loss to UST in Round 1, while Shaira got reactions for her on-court frustrations during Adamson’s four-game slump.
[ALSO READ: In defense of swag: DLSU fans speak up for Angel Canino against bashers in UAAP Season 86]
But for Joseph, as long as it’s within the rules of sportsmanship, there isn’t a problem at all in how the players deal with their emotions.
“As long as it's of course, within the bounds of sportsmanship. You don't want people throwing the ball at other people or hitting others,” quipped Joseph, who is also a former national team athlete in fencing.
“That's where we also help teach [the players]. Emotion regulation tactics, how to improve skills. Keeping composure talaga is the main thing. But I think there also needs to be some sort of forgiveness that people shouldn't make mistakes. Sometimes, their emotions will get the best of them because sports is such a high pressure situation. Emotions are involved.”
The spotlight this season is inevitably on Nitura, who is on track as the next UAAP volleyball rookie sensation.
Recently, she broke Alyssa Valdez's UAAP scoring record, making 38 for the Adamson Lady Falcons--albeit in a loss.
"I hope she actually enjoys the sport more after beating all the records she's gonna beat," Valdez told One Sports in response to Nitura's feat. "I hope she still enjoys the sport even after, and mas eager and hungry pa siya to learn more about volleyball."
The Phenom said it was especially tough to absorb losses after such an effort.
"Sports teaches us in a hard way, teaches things in a hard way. I hope mas bumangon and maging resilient siya after this loss, mas talagang pagbutihin niya pa and mas maging collective sila as a team to help each other," she said.
Watch on TikTok
Meanwhile, Joseph’s mental coach counterpart and Filipinas player Camille Rodriguez spoke about the other side of the spectrum, where players are also criticized for “celebrating too much” — something that is rampant in both the men’s and women’s tournament.
An elite player herself, Rodriguez believes that the athletes are just trying to express themselves.
“There's no wrong way to celebrate, especially if it's within the context of sportsmanship. I think something to highlight is that there are rules that safeguard the sportsmanship of the sport. So I think [we should] allow the athlete to celebrate,” Rodriguez said.
“Because in a game like volleyball, every point counts… and as people, you celebrate it. That just means they're safe. That just means that they're in a safe environment, that they're allowed to celebrate it,” she added.
As advocates for their players’ mental health, Joseph and Rodriguez hope that fans are able to see the bigger picture at the end of the day.
Especially as competition heats up when the second round commences, they hope that the spirit of sportsmanship and compassion among the players is what reigns over people’s minds.
“We are here to facilitate them, coming into themselves. We are not here to change them, make them amazing players. Nasa kanila na yon. We just are here to really pick and poke at and draw out certain things from them so that that becomes the highlight for them. And the impact is that they become more themselves,” said Joseph.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: How two former national athletes help maintain mental wellness for Ateneo Blue Eagles]
“Good performance is an indication of that, being capable is a result of that… And whether or not the future holds sports for them, that's okay. Because it's about them becoming who they are at the end of the day.”
Chiara Permentilla, a player for the Nxled Chameleons who hails from Adamson, asks volleyball fans to view Nitura's reactions in a different light.
"Sobrang tapang nung bata, sobrang passionate niya about the game. Makikita mo na gusto niya talagang manalo," Permentilla told One Sports.
"You can't judge someone just because she's very passionate about something."
"Let's take away the emotion from it. Kunin natin 'yung message na gusto niyang i-portray," she said. "Masaya makita na 'yung bata, gusto talaga ilaban, hindi lang para sa sarili niya pero para sa pride ng school."
(With reports from Jamie Velasco, Aivan Episcope/One Sports Digital)