Sidney Oliva: Designing Stories from the Sidelines

From drafting plates in Beato Angelico Building to delivering reports on the UAAP stage, Sidney Oliva knows what it means to balance two worlds. She’s the face Tiger fans see on screen, confident, composed, and full of school pride, but behind that mic is a student who almost didn’t audition at all.

“I’ve always dreamed of being part of the UAAP,” Sidney said in an exclusive interview with ALL-STAR.

“I knew I couldn’t be an athlete, but I loved watching and supporting a team.”

That dream began in a summer sports program where a coach encouraged her to watch other players to improve. From then on, she made it a goal to study in a UAAP school and, maybe someday, tell the stories from the sidelines herself.

Sidney had been eyeing the courtside auditions since her first year but always backed out because of her schedule. 

“When everything finally aligned, I told myself, maybe this is it, maybe this is my season. Eight is a lucky number, double that, so why not shoot my shot?”

After sending her audition video to Cignal and anxiously waiting through July, she finally received the message: she made it.

Architecture Meets the Arena

Balancing two demanding worlds isn’t easy, but fourth-year Architecture student Sidney Oliva has found her rhythm. “If you want something, you’ll make it happen,” she said. “Sometimes you’ll even surprise yourself with what you can do with the right motivation.”

For her, Architecture and sports reporting are more similar than they seem. 

“In design, you’re given problems and asked to find creative solutions,” she explained. “That’s how I approach my reports: what do I want people to know, what story will make them understand and support the team more?”

She credits her professors, friends, and blockmates for helping her manage both. 

“There’s no shame in asking for help,” she said. “Having a supportive circle just pushes me to do better.”

Home in the Heart of España

Sidney expected to feel like an outsider among the Growling Tigers. Instead, she found a family. “Everyone was so warm,” she said. “Coach Pido helped me connect with the team, and they always included me. It really feels like one big family.”

One moment stood out to her: an interview with Echo Laure. “He told me, ‘This team is my family here in Manila, and I’m very protective of my family.’ That line stuck with me. It sums up what UST basketball is all about—brotherhood.”

Representing UST on national TV feels like carrying two flags, she said, one for Beato and one for España. “It’s a privilege and a responsibility to show people that I can do both, and do them well.”

Her classmates love it too. “They’d say, ‘Hala, andito na pala si courtside!’” she laughed. “Even my professors send screenshots of me reporting in our class group chat.”

Building What’s Next

“This experience taught me that I can do more than what I give myself credit for if I just stop denying myself the chance to try,” Sidney reflected.

She isn’t rushing what comes next. “Nothing’s written on stone yet,” she smiled. “I love broadcasting, but I also want to practice architecture. For now, I just want to keep learning.”

Whether on paper or on air, Sidney Oliva continues to design stories, one game at a time.

For more exclusive stories about sports beyond the scoreboard, click here.