by
Katrina A. Mallari and Kate Borbon | Jul 25, 2017
“Life is like a wheel — you lose some; you win some,” said Nelly Quirob, one of PLDT Football Club (FC)’s key players.
The PLDT FC recently won a string of matches against several heavyweight teams, two of which were Metrobank and Petron. And while every member has certainly contributed immensely to these victories, it was the goals scored by Quirob that earned the PLDT FC the points it needed to win.
By the grace of God
Quirob was born in Albay, Bicol. She has been working in PLDT’s Sampaloc, Manila branch for more than a decade now in the CSO Performance Analytics and Operation Research Department. Currently, she resides in Taguig City with her husband and two children.
Quirob started playing football in 1999, while studying at Far Eastern University. She had no idea how much the sport was about to become one of her life’s greatest passions. In college, one tries all sorts of things until you find what best fits him — and that’s precisely what Quirob did. She tried out for the FEU Football Team with her best friend.
Ultimately, it was her family who inspired her to pursue her passion visibly linked to the sport. “Life was difficult for us. I had no money for college. But I persevered and worked hard to pull through. And by the grace of God, I got a scholarship in FEU as a football player,” Quirob said.
She was then taught by coaches of the university’s football team, and eventually was able to play for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). Even after graduating, Quirob did not stop playing football, which she calls her ‘passion’. Now, she serves as forward for the PLDT Football Club.
Living the dream
Quirob’s love affair with the sport paved the way for her to be recognized as an award-winning football player within the field. Among her many achievements included becoming back-to-back champions in 1999-2000 and 2003-2004 in the UAAP; Most Valuable Player in ASCOM 7aside and in Taguig City under Virgo Intacta Football Club.
The 37-year-old mother of two is credited for the PLDT FC’s wins against Metrobank and Petron. When asked about this, Quirob expresses her elation, and yet remains extremely humble.
“I’m so happy,” Quirob said. “But without my teammates’ support, I think I can’t make it. We played as a team with trust, communication, and with the heart.”
In the future, Nelly’s hope, aside from giving the best to her family, is to play in the next MVP Olympics.
“That’s my dream,” she said.
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