29. Have you met real friends by playing volleyball? And they are?
Yah! I have met a lot of people because of volleyball and now they are my treasure friends. So many to mention but I’ll try to give you some. Martin Libot and Raymond Yoldi, they are from DLSU, Jason Almario and Justin Sagad from UP, Aisa is one of my friends in street volleyball, Edjet Mabbayad, Kenneth Manahan and Jessie lopez are also my friends from FEU and also without volleyball, I wouldn’t have the chance to meet this guy whose very dear to me. JR Labrador too, and he’s also from FEU.

30. What’s a good thing about winning? About loosing?
The good thing about winning is the satisfaction that you get from the job well done but make sure you know how to handle the winning because if you negatively put it in your mind and you got the wrong take of it, you will never become a real winner… loosing is not about “defeat”, it only shows that there’s always a second chance, in fact you’ll learn more in loosing than winning, once you decide to get up and move on after the great fall, you will discover the a different kind of happiness in your heart. You’ll only become a loser once you admit to be so.

31. What life lessons did you learn through sports?
That is the question I really want to ask to every volleyball player. There are a lot of things I learned in playing volleyball. It shows how important discipline is, but it’s not everything. I’ve been playing volleyball for so many years and its been a part of my journey. In playing volleyball, it is not just about serving, digging and spiking the ball, but it is about thinking, accepting and analyzing. Thinking about the strategies that you’re going to use and accepting whatever consequence it might bring you and then analyzing the things that happened in order for you to figure out the best solution to use in moving on. I met different people through volleyball and I’ve been through a lot in my life. I experienced so many downs due to my wrong decisions, but I still manage to stand up, to think and correct them well. Volleyball and committing mistakes always go hand in hand just like life and mistakes are: “I know I made a lot of things in my life, but I wouldn’t regret any of them, without them I wouldn’t have the chance to make things right.” Its true! Just always make good judgement in everything that you do.

32. Any message to those people who look up to you?
I just want to say always love what you’re doing, if you play volleyball, always play with attitude and confidence. Just never stop believin’ yourself. To all beginners, just never stop trying. If you want to be good at something (volleyball) just always work for it. You need to work your ass off because you won’t get it instantly. Determination will bring you there…But of course always be yourself and keep your feet on the ground. Remember to always make good judgment in all that you do. Always smile and be a good person! God bless!

End of interview.

The first time that I read Allen’s answers to the questions that I gave him, I was overwhelmed, nearly driving me to tears. I can’t find the words to describe him. His words are so real that I can feel his happiness, his contentment, and most of all, his love for volleyball. His passion shows whenever he plays, but exchanging thoughts with him is different thing. The pleasant personality of Allen emanates from his words.

After giving us a glimpse of what goes on in his mind and the goodness of his heart, I gained more respect to this player. Now, we know a little more of the person that he is. He is not just after the games, but for the experience, wisdom and friendship that comes every time he plays. And that made him a rare find in the volleyball world.
Kudos to you Allen! Continue to be an inspiration to us.

Special thanks to Beezy for being an instrument in making this feature possible.

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