She is now in her “corporate girlie era.”
That is what former volleyball player Aby Maraño shared in a separate update on her Instagram account, which she made after dropping the bombshell announcement regarding her retirement from the professional volleyball scene.
“From spikes and blocks to meetings and business development,” she noted the shift in her atmosphere.
“Hindi ko inakala na after so many years on the court, I’d find myself in a completely different arena wearing blazers, attending meetings, building connections, and learning a whole new side of myself,” Maraño continued.
She also admitted that while it is a different kind of game, she is still bringing with her the same discipline, passion, resilience, and heart that volleyball taught her.
“It feels meaningful to know that in this new chapter, I can still serve and contribute – just in a different way,” she said. “Iba man ang uniform, iba man ang arena, pero same heart, same drive pa rin si Tyang.”
She ended her post by saying: “Here’s to new beginnings, new challenges, new lessons, new version of me and my corporate girlie OOTDS.”
Meanwhile, in a reel, she also brought her fans to a day in her life following the major career move.
Last September 16, the 33-year-old athlete opened her post by saying: “Some goodbyes hurt more than others. And this one…hurts more than I ever imagined.”
She then dropped the major news: “Today, with a heart that is both incredibly heavy and incredibly grateful, I am announcing my retirement from professional volleyball.“
Maraño then noted that it was not an “overnight decision” for her, adding: “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.”
Aby also described that her decision to retire is more painful than breaking up with another person.
“Mas masakit pa to sa pakikipagbreak sa tao, sobrang sakit. Hindi ko alam kung saan ilalagay yung sakit.”
However, she told that when the moment finally came for her to make the decision of letting go, “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. At higit sa lahat, wala akong ‘what ifs’,’ she added.
“BINUHOS KO LAHAT. LAHAT. LAHAT,” Aby stressed.
