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The Akari Chargers turn to young playmaker Bea Bonafe to steady the ship.
Up until today, Bea Bonafe had yet to crack the starting lineup in the Premier Volleyball League, having spent time as a backup setter with the Creamline Cool Smashers and eventually, the Akari Chargers.
But despite this, Bonafe’s resolve never wavered, knowing that her time to shine would come soon. And as she waited for her breakthrough, the 24-year-old continued to put in the work, both for herself and her team.
“So off the bench, ganun po, [I embraced] the role that I was given. So even if I was on the bench, I still had a crucial role, not only in the game, but also in training to help our ates out there. And to help the first six, you know, train with the second six,” Bonafe reflected.
And when the stakes were at their highest, Bonafe found herself thrust into the starting six, with the Chargers locking horns against the Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL on Tour knockout rounds.
With Kamuy Cal sidelined due to knee issues, Bonafe took on the challenge to steer the Angels’ offense, finishing with 14 excellent sets in their 32-30, 25-22, 25-19 victory to earn a ticket to the conference quarterfinals.
“It feels like I won a championship! Ganon ‘yung feeling, sobrang saya po kung wala sila coach, and sila ate. Lahat sila, naniwala po sa akin,” Bonafe said as she held back tears in the media room.
“Lahat ng pinaghihirapan naman, may mapupunta ng success. So sinasabi ko lang po sa sarili ko na one day magkakaroon din ako ng breakthrough. And ‘yung one day na ‘yan, ito po.”
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Akari head coach Tina Salak was least surprised by the setter’s breakout game, knowing that her potential had always been there, and it was always a matter of unleashing it at the perfect time.
Having mentored Bonafe since her days at De La Salle-Zobel, Salak also pointed out the setter’s champion-level work ethic, describing her as an early bird in training who willingly does the dirty work.
By the time they reunited in Akari, Salak also made sure that Bonafe would “be herself”, rather than trying to imitate her idols’ setting tendencies.
“[You have to] be yourself, and not just i-imitate mo ‘yung taong gusto mo. So hindi mo makikita ‘yung best mo, kasi you’re thinking na ibang tao ‘yung [ginagaya mo]. So ‘yun ‘yung sinabi ko sa kanya, na ibahin niya lahat ng ideas niya, lahat ng norms niya. Lahat ng techniques niya, ibahin para makita niya kung sino talaga si Bea,” Salak said.
Along with Salak, Bonafe also has the privilege to learn from Vince Mangulabnan, the champion setter who once steered National University’s offense in the UAAP Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Today, Mangulabnan is a setting coach for the Chargers, and has been very hands-on with Bonafe in terms of technicalities alongside Salak.
“It’s like, amazing. It’s out of this world kasi kung hindi ka gumaling sa kanila, ikaw na ‘yun eh, diba? Parang sila talaga ‘yung bread and butter ng team, ‘yung mga setters. So learning from them, you have to take it upon yourself that you’re so lucky,” Bonafe reflected in a quick follow-up with The GAME.
More than repaying her coaches’ trust, or her hard work paying off, Bonafe’s breakout is also a culmination of a leap of faith that dates back to high school. Prior to becoming a setter, the 24-year-old was actually a middle blocker in Zobel, and it wasn’t until college that she tried being a playmaker thanks to Salak’s advice.
“It was a leap, kasi in high school I was a middle blocker,” Bonafe shared. “And then from then on, after I graduated, Coach Tina told me to try being a setter. So ever since, that’s like five years na po ‘yun, and I went to Creamline, si Coach Tina pa rin ‘yung nagsasabi na mag-setter ka, kaya mo ‘yan, kaya mo ‘yan.”
It goes without saying that the transition from middle blocker to setter is no easy feat, given the different skill sets required for each position. Not to mention, setters are also an invaluable part of any volleyball team, as they dictate the tempo of the offense.
But if her breakout game is any indicator, it’s that Bonafe can and will hold her own as a playmaker after all.
“So ngayon, nandito na ako, learning from Coach T and kay Coach Vince, and everyone. So yeah, full-circle moment.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.