Ces Molina, 24 y/o Outside Spiker for the Petron Blaze Spikers
When did you start playing volleyball?
I started playing volleyball when I was in 4th year highschool but it was not meant because I am a track and field player before, so I started from scratch and zero knowledge in volleyball and I just go to college and train for San Beda college in Mendiola, Manila, they said you can play for San Beda and it was free tuition fee so I grabbed it and I played for them and started playing volleyball since 2010.
What inspired you to play volleyball?
Before I didn’t know that my mom is a volleyball player, and she used to play in SEA Games, and she just told me after I graduated in college and started playing in professional league. So I was inspired to play volleyball because I think it is my passion and I think I should play team sports than a single player sport. So I much prefer team sports.
What is the most difficult part of being an outside spiker?
I think the most mahirap part is all the break ball, yung mga bola na hindi nareceive ng maayos or luck of reception na nareceive, lahat tinatapon yan sa outside spiker, so you need to adjust the set if it’s closer to the net or outside the net. Yeah, it’s hard because all the ball is binibigay pag walang receive.
What is your favorite thing about being an outside spiker?
I think when you block, isa yun, pag naka-block ka, yung hindi mo na kailangan ng marami pang rally kasi puntos na agad. Next is when you do a combination play specially ang papalo is yung outside spiker so minsan, there’s no blocker so nakakatuwa sa feeling yun and gusto mo paluin in the way na gusto mo, magagawa mo.
Who is your volleyball idol?
I think my volleyball idol is Mary Jean Balse-Pabayo, she used to play in Army team and she used to play in Petron also, she was my former teammate. Because in college I was a middle hitter and now I’m an outside spiker so I think its more challenging when you do two or more positions in volleyball because Ate Ging is doing the same position like she can play outside spiker and middle blocker.
What is your best advice for new volleyball players?
I think just be patient and believe in yourself because most of the new volleyball athletes lack confidence so just take it easy and work harder and everyday you should challenge yourself.
What is the difference between the college level and the pro/semipro level of volleyball?
I think when you are a player in college, everything must be worked on, dapat one by one ginagawa natin and pinupuna tayo ng coaches natin. Coaches are like feeding everything in college level, the coach is working on every single position. Here in a professional league, you should know how to adjust everything, you should know your position well, you must work hard or double time, you should give double effort in everything you do in your position. I think its more different in college and pro league.
How was your experience playing for the National Team?
It was a privilege to be a part of the national team, because you can play among the best players in the league and you learn a lot of things in an advanced level because of the coach and also their coaching level, you can learn from them and other teammates. It is the best experience to be part of the national team, sobrang magandang experience yun lalo na when you’re competing in international league, sobrang makikita mo yung level ng laro sa ibang lugar and it was really an experience na pwede mo madala inside and outside the court dito sa Pilipinas.
Where is your favorite place to relax?
I think massage or spa because we have training twice or thrice a day conditioning and everything so we must relax once or twice a month or a week. I go to massage place or spa to relax.
What is your favorite food?
Sinigang and sweets.
