MANILA, Philippines—Mozzy Ravena was once a burgeoning volleyball talent as part of the University of Santo Tomas dynasty in the late 1980s under the legendary August Sta. Maria.
It was Sta. Maria who guided the Golden Tigresses to seven straight UAAP championships using Japanese methods, which at that time, was nearly unstoppable in the collegiate ranks and Ravena was part of that title run as she won three of the school’s seven straight championships as a student-athlete.
Now the mother of two of the brightest stars in Philippine basketball Kiefer and Thirdy, Mozzy said she’s beyond happy that her sons are not just playing professionally but also living under the same principles she once played in college.
“I believe in the exchange of knowledge and you’ll only get better, that way, as an athlete,” said Ravena as she reminisced her college days at UST. “It’s a tremendous feeling because it’s not just the experience of learning [these Japanese ideas] but they’re actually living in Japan and playing there.”
“They’re experiencing the culture, and they’re immersed in the Japanese way and culture.”
Mozzy said that it was also up to them to translate Sta. Maria’s books and this became the foundation for their nearly perfect runs.
It was during Sta. Maria’s tenure that the Golden Tigresses achieved an unprecedented feat—win 10 tournaments across the country in one season.
There was also a tune-up match in 1991 that UST dominated the national volleyball team that Thelma Barina-Rojas, winner of four Southeast Asian Games gold medals, led.
The tune-up match was just put to a stop because UST was holding the lead and the nationals failed to get momentum.
Mozzy said that while her experience as a player learning under Japanese ideals was already worthwhile, her sons’ journey in the B.League is a completely different adventure.
“In your lifetime, there are things you won’t be able to do, but my kids have the experience that they will tell stories of to their own children,” said Ravena. “Well, I’m happy because I get to at least taste a bit of the pie but they [Kiefer and Thirdy] got to get half or maybe even take the whole pie so I’m really happy for them.”
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Source by sports.inquirer.net
