At Last, Alyssa Eroa Feels the Finals

ALYSSA EROA COULDN’T STOP CRYING. After years of grinding in the PVL, the finals finally happened—and she felt it in her chest, in her hands, in her bones.

“Sobrang saya ko,” she told ALL-STAR. 

Tears weren’t just for her. Alyssa had watched Petro Gazz win earlier, felt their joy, and it hit her in the heart.

“Kasi kanina kanina nga talaga nanalo yung Petro Gazz. Nandoon kami sa malapit sa kanila. Nakikita ko sila. Masaya sila. So sabi ko, gusto ko rin ng ganoon, gusto ko rin maramdaman yung feeling!”

And for the first time, she finally did. ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles has made it to the playoffs for the first time. 

The Thunderbelles punched their ticket to their first-ever PVL finals with a clean sweep of PLDT, 25-22, 28-26, 25-22, in Thursday’s semifinals at Araneta Coliseum.

But don’t think it came easy. For Alyssa Eroa, she’s been grinding PVL courts for years, and giving up was never on the table.

“Naniniwala ako sa kakayahan ko. At saka sabi nga nila, yung yung buhay parang gulong na minsan nasa taas minsan nasa baba. So parang ganun lang iyon.”

Patience came from love—pure and stubborn love for volleyball. We asked her why she kept grinding despite always losing in the past.

“For the love of the sport.”

That love started young, in the streets near her home, playing for nothing but the thrill.

“Na-discover ko siya kasi yung mama ko pinapasali ako sa pinapasali ako noun sa kalya namin malapit sa amin. Parang grade 2 pa lang ako na pinapasali ako sa kalya namin. Akala ko laro-laro lang ganyan ganyan. Napatunayan ko na sobrang mahal ko na yung volleyball nung high school na ako. Kasi tumatakas na ako para makapaglaro.”

Even champions face doubt. When her body changed, Alyssa wondered if she could still compete. For her, doubt set in when she gained weight. 

“Noong medyo nagkalaman yung katawan ko noon, doon ako nagkaroon ng doubt. Parang pinabayaan ko ‘yung sarili sarili ko. Noong tumaba ako, naisip ko kung kaya ko ba ‘to? Noong payat nga ako, hindi ko kaya eh!”

She thought that would be the end of her career.  

Then came her turning point—the PVL Reinforced Conference 2024.

“Yung moment na yun na ano yung nag-best ako ng PVL Reinforced Conference 2024, nag Best Libero ako. Yun yung moment na nagbago talaga na parang parang walang nakakakilala. Akala ko walang nakakakilala sa akin. Meron pala meron pala na mula college ako y.”

How does she want to be remembered?

“Gusto kong maalala as a person na hindi susuko. Ako yung taong hindi susuko na para bola, lagi kitang ipaglalaban.”

And her advice for anyone fighting their own battle?

“Hangga’t may buhay, lumaban at huwag na huwag mong kuwestyunin si God kung bakit nangyayari sayo yung mga ganitong bagay. Magtiwala ka lang.”

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