By Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Rev. Jalando-on coach of the CPU Golden Lions Table Tennis Team with his athletes. The Women+s Team bagged the Bronze medal, and Kimberly Solocasa placed 3rd in the Singles Event.
The National PRISAA games in Iba, Zambales from April 23 to 28, 2017 has taught me a lot of lessons. Let me share to you 7 things that I have learned.
The WVPRISAA Sepak Takraw Team mostly from CPU is the National PRISAA 2017 champion under Coach Keith Dune Gallos. Gallos was awarded the Best Coach of the Sepak Takraw tournament.
First, you play with the venue that you are given.
Athletes may have been practicing in conducive venues in their respective schools but when you play in a competition like the National PRISAA you cannot expect the venue to be like that of your school. For example, the Table Tennis tables are not at par with the international standard tables that CPU has. The playing area is open; the wind is breezing anytime, and sun glare is a distraction. You just have to focus and play, and do not dwell in murmuring.
In some ways, this is the same with life. You may plan everything based on your expectations but life oftentimes has a way of ruining your plans. You just have to adjust and go on.
Second, you play in any weather condition.
The intensity of the heat in Iba, Zambales is so high that you can probably cook an egg in a frying pan. Athletes here have to drink twice or thrice as much as their regular intake in order not to be dehydrated. Everyone is wishing that they could have played in air-conditioned areas.
Life is the same. It is not always fair weather. Everyone has to brave the heat of life, or has to navigate the stormy relationships. Expect the unexpected in life and you will not be caught surprised.
After a very long time, the CPU Football Team under Coach Bob Rommel Javellana represented the WVPRISAA and brought home the Bronze medal.
Third, you play with the decisions of the referees.
There will always be bad calls coming from the referees. There are widespread reports that most referees were newbies and just undergone a seminar days before the event. This will surely account to the many non-calls during crunch time. But athletes and coaches should take account of this because the referee´s decision is final. Momentum and morale can be broken because of inutile officiating, but then the game must go on. Athletes should rise above it.
Western Visayas Boys Athletics Team is the champion in the 2017 National PRISAA.
Life is unfair and that is a reality. There are many people who got away and are getting away with their “crime.” But this should not deter us in doing good. Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to be weary and lose heart — “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Fourth, you play with the schedules that are posted.
Athletes and coaches cannot demand on what schedule their team should play. Some would play here early in the morning, and some late at night. If your schedule is in the middle of the day, then you must brave the heat and play.
In life, time waits for no one. Planet Earth will just continue turning 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. We need to be productive and efficient people with the time given to us by God. At the end of the day, let us ask ourselves if we have contributed something that will make our world a better place to live in.
Congratulations to the Western Visayas Athletics Team led by CPU Golden Lion Coach Lester Cayabyab! National PRISAA 2017 WV Athletics Team Men – Champion, WV Athletics Team Women – Champion, WV Athletics Team Boys – Champion, WV Athletics Team Girls – Champion.
Fifth, you play with the lots that that you have drawn.
For seeded teams, you are assured of separate brackets. But for non-seeded teams, you just draw the lots and hope that you will land in a weak bracket. If not, then you will be assured of early elimination. But the attitude of players should not be based on what bracket you are in. If you happen to land in a higher seed bracket, then make use of the opportunity to learn from high caliber opponents.
WVPRISAA Badminton Men´s Team, composed of mainly CPU Golden Lions players, and led by Coach Mikko Nacesvalencia bagged the Silver Medal in the 2017 National PRISAA.
In life, we are born in this world without our consent. We cannot choose on whose family we are born into. But this should not be a hindrance. Life is what we make it. If you happen to be born in a poor family, then strive hard not just to survive but to excel. If you are born in a rich family, then it is your privilege to help the poor by sharing your blessings, and not squandering it on vices.
Sixth, you play with the opponents that their regions have sent.
A team cannot stand and just point their finger to another team that they want to play. You cannot choose your opponents. You just have to play to your strength and hopefully win.
We are not alone in this world. We exist with other people. Some may like you, and some may hate you. But all of us are competitors in one way or another. We all want to succeed. We just need identity our strengths and gifts, and use it to succeed in life.
The CPU Golden Lions softball teams regains their golden crown against Davao in the finals of the National PRISAA 2017.
Seventh, you play within the rules.
All games have rules. If you violate the rules, then you will be given a foul and then pay the consequence by adding a point to your opponent, a deduction or through a free throw or penalty kick. Athletes must know the rules and abide with it.
In life we need rules and boundaries. If there are no laws to regulate us, then it becomes the law of the jungle — only the fittest will survive. We have laws in our land but sad to say many are bending it, or not following it. In sports, there are instant penalties, but in real life only a few are enforcing it. But more than this, our motivation in doing what is right is because it is right, and not because we will be penalized if we are not doing it.
Hopefully, these lessons from sports can help us in our lives.
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