"Hindi ko alam kung saan ilalagay yung sakit": Aby Maraño officially signs off from volleyball

• Philippine volleyball icon Aby Maraño officially announced her retirement from professional volleyball after 22 remarkable years on the court
• Aby, in her post, openly admitted that hanging up her jersey hurts more than an ordinary breakup
• Between the tears and sorrow, the sports icon felt a surprising sense of peace, knowing she gave everything she had with zero "what ifs" left behind
• Aby comforted the young girl who first held a volleyball over two decades ago, assuring her that she can finally rest because she has done enough

'Tyang Aby' Maraño has finally retired from professional volleyball, announcing her retirement on Instagram.

The Filipina sports icon shared an emotional and deeply personal message announcing her formal retirement from professional volleyball. She paired throwback photos of her collegiate days donning the green-and-white De La Salle Lady Spikers jersey and representing the country in throughout her stellar career in the industry.

Aby opened her farewell note by acknowledging the sheer heartbreak of stepping away from volleyball:

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"Some goodbyes hurt more than others. And this one... hurts more than I ever imagined. 🥺 Today, with a heart that is both incredibly heavy and incredibly grateful, I am announcing my retirement from professional volleyball. Hindi ito isang overnight decision. For 22 years, ito ang mundo ko. At matagal ko nang alam na darating ang araw na kailangan kong isara ang kabanata bilang propesyunal na manlalaro ng balibol sa bansa. Mas masakit pa to sa pakikipagbreak sa tao, sobrang sakit. Hindi ko alam kung saan ilalagay yung sakit."

Yet amid the heavy grief, the multi-titled champion revealed that she found an unexpected sense of tranquility:

"But when that moment finally came, somewhere between the tears and the sadness, may isang bagay akong naramdaman na hindi ko rin ine-expect: KAPAYAPAAN. Ready na ako. Hindi dahil hindi ko na mahal ang volleyball. Hindi dahil hindi ko na kayang maglaro. But because after 22 years, alam kong naibigay ko na ang lahat. Wala na akong hinahabol pa sa karera ko. Nasulit ko na. Naibuhos ko na."

Aby took time to thank her family, coaches, teammates, rivals, and loyal supporters who were with her:

"Kayo ang kasama kong sumulat ng kwentong ito. And what a beautiful, crazy, painful, unforgettable story it has been."

In the most touching section of her letter, Aby spoke directly to her younger self, one that made her fans emotional too:

"At para naman sa batang si Aby na unang humawak ng bola ng volleyball 22 years ago... Look at you. You made it. Nakapaglaro ka para sa Pilipinas. Nasuot mo ang jersey na minsan pinapangarap mo lang. Naging team captain ka. Naging inspirasyon ka ng ibang tao... Kaya ngayon, little girl... you can rest. You did enough. You were enough. And finally all is well now."

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Tributes immediately poured in from fellow athletes, and generations of fans who celebrated the indelible legacy, ferocious heart, and unmatched leadership of one of the country's most iconic sports figures.

As previously reported by KAMI, Eman Bacosa Pacquiao suffered a majority decision loss to Rodelyn Perez in Muntinlupa City. Perez captured the Philippine Boxing Federation lightweight championship and avenged his 2024 defeat to Pacquiao. Eman was knocked down three times during the fight but continued to battle until the final bell. The son of Manny Pacquiao now holds an 8-2-1 record while Perez improved to 5-4.

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Source: KAMI.com.gh