Hero Austria is one of the promising young open spikers of the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD) men's volleyball team.
In Chino Trinidad's report for "24 Oras," the former NCAA Juniors Finals MVP shared how he got into the sport, especially in a basketball-crazy country like the Philippines.
Hero said he started playing at barangay leagues before he got spotted by scouts. When the opportunity to land at Perps arrived, he grabbed the chance with his future in mind.
"Baka maka-graduate ako dahil sa sports na 'to kung pagpapatuloy ko. E pinush po ako ng family ko tsaka nung mga nanay-nanayan ko din pong bakla," he said.
Hero is aware that hoops still retains supremacy among men's sports in the country, but he firmly believes that there is still room for men's volleyball to flourish.
He was proven right when the Philippine men's national team bagged the silver medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games after pulling off an upset against title favorite Thailand.
"Meron palang twist na ang lalaki hindi lang pala [pang-basketball]," he said.
"Meron din palang may ibubuga na puwedeng lumaban na pang ibang bansa din, na kayang tumapat din ng pang international na level," he said.
Hero is currently maintaining his physical conditioning in preparation for NCAA Season 96, which will be aired on GMA Network's different platforms.
Perpetual is gunning for its 13th title after its bid for a three-peat last year was stalled by the coronavirus pandemic.
—MGP, GMA News
