The 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games saw the debut of the Philippine women’s water polo team or The Sirens, as they are fondly called.

For the members, this is a victory in itself—especially for Ian Banzon, who remembers how they weren’t allowed to compete in the 2011 SEA Games.

The water has always been part of this Ateneo swim team alumna’s life. “I tried water polo back when I was 14,” she recalls. “I enjoyed playing it. I love the team aspect of it as well.”

Banzon says that there’s always something new to learn in the sport: “Water polo has lots of different elements. It’s like combining swimming, wrestling, basketball, football, and even a bit of ice hockey.”

What’s commendable is how she’s able to balance med school and training with the Philippine team. Though there were moments when she had to take a leave from the sport to focus on her studies, she admits that she could not really take sports out of her life.

Discipline

Aside from water polo, she does triathlon, strength training, and CrossFit. It’s the discipline she learned as an athlete that allows her to balance med school and sports.

“It’s about knowing your responsibilities,” she says. “I give my best effort to make the most of my schedule. I’m determined to succeed in both aspects.”

It’s no surprise that she wants to specialize in sports medicine.
Banzon is grateful to the faculty and school administrators of the Ateneo med school for being supportive.

“Communication and coordination with them was very help ful,” she says. “I told them that I would be responsible for the things I would be missing out on, and I would make up for it.”

All the hard work as a med student paid off; she graduated the day before she left for Singapore for the SEA Games.

There were other hurdles Banzon and her teammates had to face, though. “I can say with certainty that national athletes sacrifice a lot of time, effort and money in pursuit of achieving honor for the country,” she says.

The women’s team had to shell out money—and get sponsors—to compete in Singapore.

“I also learned that a lot of our national athletes do not get paid enough for the effort they put in and the pride they bring,” she says. “But I see how passionate our athletes are. Despite the circumstances and challenges, we are still here, fighting and giving our all for love of the sport and country.”

THE PHILIPPINE Women’s water polo team. The time this piece is published they’ll be facing Singapore.

Like any sport, water polo can get very tiring, physically and emotionally. “One can get beaten up, and sometimes our opponents try to drown us,” she says.

One just has to accept that things do not always go your way, and to learn to have the right mind-set in a difficult situation.

“If you let your emotions get to you, you lose, and so does the whole team. We always have to keep the bigger picture in mind,” she says.

Photography Raymond
Styling Luis Carlo San Juan
Makeup and hairstyle Jet Babas
Shot on location at The Grove by Rockwell Podium Amenity Deck