AJ Pareja with James Pecaña as his partner during the national beach volleyball tryouts in Subic. (Photo courtesy of Charo Soriano)
MANILA – AJ Pareja has one of the most interesting stories among those who made the national team pools for the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Pareja, who made the crack for the men's beach volleyball training squad, is also a front-liner being a licensed doctor.
In fact, Pareja, a former University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player, is currently Creamline's team doctor for its beach volleyball teams even as he aims to become an accredited FIVB doctor.
"As the Team MD of Creamline Beach, I will ensure that the athletes are free from any injuries and that they're keeping themselves safe and healthy despite the pandemic. Drafting the medical protocols for all team activities has been both a learning and fulfilling activity for me especially to my other life as an MD," said Pareja, who joined the program last year.
Even after graduating from Ateneo and eventually passing the licensure exam in 2014, Pareja has been balancing his playing time with other chores.
"I've been living out this balancing act ever since from college, med school, even during medical practice so I kind of have a grasp of it. It's all about accepting that both commitments have high demands and figuring out when you can compromise effort for either one without negatively affecting the overall result," he said. "I've learned to say no when it doesn't help in the progress of either commitment. It also helps a lot to have a support circle that understands your frequent absences because of these commitments."
That is why he did not hesitate when he was given an invitation to try out for the national team and quickly began training even if the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic forced him to just do his drills at home.
"The preparation has been there since day one of the pandemic. It wasn't an overnight success. Regardless if gyms or training facilities were closed, I kept my physical condition with home based workouts as well as keeping my nutrition in check despite the constant temptation of binging at home," Pareja said.
The former middle blocker looks to make a national team return after he made the men's indoor volleyball team that competed in the 2015 SEA Games.
But as early as now, Creamline beach volleyball program head Charo Soriano is happy on how his career both as a doctor and professional spiker has been.
"I’ve known AJ since he was a teenager and I’m so proud of all his accomplishments. His goal has always been to represent our country in the international arena and I am so happy to journey with him towards his ultimate dream," said Soriano, who also leads the Philippine National Volleyball Federation's beach volleyball committee.
She said, "His Creamline Beach family and the PNVF are here to support him all the way." (PNA)
