The former Adamson University softball player Clarisse Lozada, who was playing as the designated hitter and designated play for the team, has expressed her ending career in the school team as unfortunate; in what most cases, is due to the pandemic. 

 

Before Lozada graduated online with a B.A. in Education, combining studies and preparing herself for her career in the sport seemed to fit her expectations as a university’s athlete. The former softball sensation had the best career in the team until winning their last championship on April 2, 2019.

​

Before the lockdown and pandemic began in 2020, the athletes put all their excitement and hard work into the upcoming games, looking forward to their forthcoming sporting events. Lozada says that the softball team would usually train in a designated place outside the campus that the University hired specifically for the team. Even when the athletes return from training and have free times on other days, they made sure to jog outside at Rizal Park or towards Manila Bay. 

 

All these things became merely a daydream for the athlete after the COVID-19 outbreak struck the Philippines. The then routine activities were canceled under strict observation, which affected the University’s UAAP event activities. Lozada’s coach gave the advice to train in school under these circumstances, but each player, of course, had their disadvantages of doing so. Lozada, “I feel like I'm not used to it because I'm used to training outside as an athlete. Our team trained outside the school.” Regardless of that, training continued in school until some of the athletes had to travel back to their families for convenience purposes.

​

Because Lozada had already graduated from her alma mater, she won’t be playing anymore in the University’s team. She says that when the UAAP starts again, it’ll be challenging for the players. “I think it depends because some of us are still doing our workouts even though we’re far from each other. Our coaches gave us programs for workouts.” She expressed her deep concern for her former teammates, as well as other players in the UAAP, “Just train/workout inside your house, don't go out if not necessary and take some vitamins, etc.”

​

It was clear that some of the university athletes had graduated amidst the lockdown, and Lozada describes, “unfortunate for most of them.” 

“The season was canceled; some of the players are graduating. It’s their last playing year; it’s just sad they can't play for their final season,” she adds. Now that most of them are graduated and left, it will be tough for the Adamson University softball team to pick up where they left since the new players will have to make their own quest.