ENTERING SEASON 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) as a heavily recruited talent, Kaela Aguilar was an immediate contributor to the Ateneo Women’s Table Tennis Team. In her debut season, the undefeated super rookie was a key factor in the team’s silver medal finish which ultimately rewarded her with the Rookie of the Year award.

However, the table tennis star has had her fair share of battles on and off the court. Throughout her career, Kaela battled with anemia and a compromised immune system while also facing constant pressure to perform at her best. Despite these circumstances, the Bulacan native continues to push forward as she trudges towards her ultimate dream of becoming an Olympian.

Eyes on the goal  

Although Kaela has achieved much success in table tennis, her first encounter with the sport came by chance when she was in the fifth grade. On a rainy day, Kaela was stranded inside the Sta. Rita Elementary School due to flooding. Coincidentally, she was stuck in the classroom where table tennis tryouts were being held. Despite having no initial interest in the sport, her schoolmates encouraged her to try out. With her natural talent and feel for the game, she immediately got accepted into the school’s varsity team.

Despite her family’s support, many of her peers doubted her ability to succeed in the sport. However, Kaela simply used this to fuel her motivation to work even harder and be the best table tennis player she can be. “So noong una madaming comments na parang hindi ka naman gagaling diyan, wala kang mararating diyan, ganoon. So ako, ginawa ko nalang inspiration iyon na sumikap ako para mas lalong gumaling (At first, there were many negative comments that doubted my ability to succeed in table tennis. However, I simply used this as inspiration to work harder and be better),” she shared.

With a renewed mindset to prove her critics wrong, Kaela was determined to turn herself into a formidable player and continued to train with a single goal in mind—to qualify for the Palarong Pambansa. With her hardwork in training, Kaela topped the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association Meet on her first try and secured a ticket to the nationwide competition in her fifth grade. Since then, Kaela was a regular fixture in the Palarong Pambansa until Grade 10.

As she made strides in the national stage, Kaela turned her attention to international meets with the ultimate goal of becoming an Olympian. Kaela’s first taste of international competition came in 2016 when she donned the country’s colors in the Southeast Asian Table Tennis Association Championships. She then followed this up with an impressive first place finish in the junior’s division of the 4th Philippine Super League in 2018 and a Top 8 finish in the senior’s division the following year. Her Top 8 finish ultimately qualified her for an official spot in the national team’s Team B that represented the country in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Changing the game

Despite her rise in becoming one of the promising young table tennis players in the country, Kaela’s career nearly ended when she was diagnosed with anemia in 2017 as her team of doctors feared that this diagnosis would evolve into leukemia. Simultaneously, the budding star was deemed ineligible to play in the Palarong Pambansa as she aged out of the competition.

Because of this dramatic turn of events, Kaela spiralled into a slump that nearly made her put down the paddle forever. Even after recovering from anemia, she experienced a series of poor performances throughout her stay in senior high school. “May time na ayaw ko na nang maglaro kasi may time na yung performance ko sobrang baba (There was a time when I didn’t want to play anymore because of my poor performance),” Kaela recalled.

Instead of wallowing in defeat, Kaela took this time to step back and reevaluate her athletic career. In search of motivation to continue playing, Kaela recalled her initial dream to become an Olympian.

As she slowly regained her footing, an opportunity came knocking when National Team Coach Ting Ledesma—who also mentors the Ateneo Women’s Table Tennis Team—offered Kaela a spot on the Lady Eagles’ roster. Despite not having plans of studying in Ateneo, Kaela was eventually persuaded by the veteran coach to don the Blue and White.

Upon entering college, Kaela shunned all the pressure and remained optimistic in her efforts to bounce back into top form. “Natutunan ko na huwag agad bibitaw, kasi hindi pa naman tapos [ang laban] (I learned to never give up first because the fight is not yet over),” the Lady Eagle said.

Apart from the desire to improve her game, Kaela’s renewed energy towards table tennis was a result of her resolve not to leave her rookie season with regrets. “Sinabi ko sarili ko, ‘Enjoy mo lang iyan. Okay lang, wala naman mawawala sa iyo eh’ (I told myself to just enjoy the game because I got nothing to lose),” she shared.

Carving her own path

From a chance encounter with table tennis to overcoming her health ailments and poor play, Kaela’s grit and perseverance have propelled her to reach great heights. Apart from her long term goal to become an Olympian, Kaela currently has her sights set on bringing home the Season 83 championship for the Ateneo Women’s Table Tennis Team.

Simultaneously, the table tennis star is also working to zero in on the prestigious MVP award. “Gusto kong mag-champion kami next season, and gusto kong isama doon [na] makuha ko yung MVP. (I want us to be the champions next season, and I want to grab the MVP award along with it),” Kaela asserted. With a paddle in one hand, Kaela will continue to take the table tennis world by storm.