Gretchen ho

 Gretchen Ho 
may not be the best player in the UAAP. She might not even be the best spiker in a title-contending Ateneo Lady Eagles crew she is leading.

However, in five years in Katipunan, Ho has emerged as one of the most popular volleybelles in the country, combining her stunning looks with the trademark hustle that has typified her game ever since.

As of this writing, Ho, through her gretchenho handle, has the most Twitter followers of all volleyball players in the Philippines with 68, 042 and the second-most "fans" on Facebook with 185, 000.

Power to inspire

That freaky incident aside, Ho said she enjoys what she's doing and loves the power to impact lives that comes with it, remembering a scene during their last elimination round game against University of Santo Tomas, when a kid shouted at her, telling her that she is an inspiration.

Episodes like that make Ho's heart go giddy and gives her unexplainable joy that, perhaps, no championship or individual award can equal.

"Nakakatuwa kase by just doing what I love, nakaka-inspire din pala ako ng mga tao," she said. "Nai-inspire din ako at the same time."

HISTORY :))

Student Athlete: Gretchen Ong Ho

Name: Gretchen Ong Ho
Birthday: April 19, 1990
Weight: 125 lbs
Height: 5’7

College Team: Ateneo De Manila University
Former Clubs: Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) Girls Volleyball Team
Current Club: ADMU Women’s Volleyball Team
Sports: Volleyball
Position: center / open
Jersey no: 3

Were you a varsity player during your elementary and high school days?
Yes. I joined the HS varsity team when I was in grade 7 and continued until graduation.

What are your greatest achievements/awards as an athlete?
MVP, Best Attacker, Best Blocker, Best Server, Mythical 6, ICA-XS Fun Run Champion, Best in Athletics Awardee (graduation).

What’s your course? Are you enjoying it?
Management Engineering. So far I’m having a hard time adjusting to college life because some professors don’t teach. But yeah, I think I am enjoying my course. Hopefully, I won’t get kicked out or be forced to shift!

When you were a kid, what do you want to be? Are you fulfilling it? Or do you have plans of fulfilling it in the future?
Actually, I really want to be an NGO worker and help the less fortunate. I love doing charity work and I think I’ll be able to fulfill that once I get a good job after college. As they said, I can’t help anyone if I’ve got nothing. I also want a job that allows me to travel and do field work.

Is it hard balancing academics and athletics at the same time? How’s your studies?
Yes, it’s hard because I have to manage my time well. I can’t be complacent and just bum around. I have to use every spare time I’ve got to study. I also have to sacrifice a little bit of my social life, and time for other things.

Any lucky charm? Where’d you get it?
My Scapular. Days with the Lord in ICA.

Who are the players you look up to or any idols?
I guess I look up to my HS coach a lot, Coach Vilet Ponce De Leon. She was a player for UST WVT before. She taught me everything about volleyball. I also look up to Charo Soriano and Laurence Ann Latigay.

IDOL nako sya :))