WENDY Semana and Sue Roces, two household names in the UAAP when the league’s women’s volleyball tournament was not yet highly popular, have gone contrasting ways in their club careers.

While Semana will have a chance to rekindle the love for the sport with PLDT Home Fibr, Roces has retired after the Perlas Spikers filed a leave of absence in the Premier Volleyball League.

A veteran playmaker who steered Far Eastern University to its 29th and most recent UAAP title in 2008, Semana was among the High Speed Hitters three new additions along with opposite spiker Fiola Ceballos and unheralded Lhara Clavano.

For the 35-year-old Semana, she is just glad to have been given the opportunity to play in the pro league by new PLDT coach George Pascua.

“Na-miss ko kasi maglaro and then ininvite ako ni Coach George na mag-tryout,” said Semana, who previously played for Perlas in the inaugural PNVF Champions League. “Nag-try ako at ayun, nabigyan ako ng chance.”

Reunited with decorated setter and captain Rhea Dimaculangan, Semana hopes to make the most out of his stint with the High Speed Hitters.

“May halong kaba e kasi napakalayo na ng volleyball noon sa ngayon. Marami na ring malalaki at magagaling na players kaya magiging malaking challenge sa akin na ito,” said Semana.

“Nakasama ko na si Rhea before sa Air Force. Kaya masaya ako dahil matagal na kaming hindi nagkasama muli. Ito na yung chance namin,” she added.

As Semana continues her volleyball journey when the Open Conference unveils next month, Roces had reached the end.

The 5-foot-10 spiker, who led University of the East top its most recent UAAP Final Four appearance in 2007, has decided to hang up her sneakers recently.

“Happy naman na ako. Pinagisipan ko na yun last year pa bago mag-end yung taon. So decided na ako mag-retire sa paglalaro,” said Roces, who made the announcement on her 37th birthday.

Aside from Perlas, which is her club since 2017, Roces also had stints with PLDT and BaliPure in the PVL’s precursor V-League.

“Nagpapasalamat din ako kay Coach Roger [Gorayeb], parang tatay ko na ‘yan at love na love ko ‘yan. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa Perlas, pamilya ko yan at nagpapasalamat ako na sila ang huling nakasama ko. Nagpapasalamat din ako kay Charo (Soriano, Perlas owner) dahil hindi ko lang siya naging kaibigan at teammate,” said Roces.