By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

Star athletes Kiefer Ravena and Alyssa Valdez addressed those gathered at the opening of the annual Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports, Cultural and Educational Association (NOPSSCEA) meet, which took place at STI-West Negros University (STI-WNU) over the weekend.
“You should also surround yourself with good people,” said Ravena. “People who can guide you do things right.”
The Iloilo City-born point guard also discussed “mental toughness” and its necessity both in and out of sports.
“Mental toughness is the ability to rise to the occasion when needed, whether in a big game, an exam, or something that you can achieve,” he explained. “You will experience adversity and failure in life and your ability to be tough will help you overcome these challenges.”
“Life will throw challenges at us and it will help us develop into better human beings,” Ravena added. “Don’t lose hope.”
Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Philippines women’s national volleyball team member Alyssa Valdez emphasized “love” and “support” for aspiring athletes in her speech, noting they serve as inspiration for them to push harder./WDJ