Susmita “Sushi” Ramos started off as someone most athletes first were: a dreamer.
The thought of bringing home a championship was just once an aspiration a kid from Negros Occidental had after meeting her love for badminton at such a young age.
The first of which looks back from the start.
Driven by the game
For Sushi, badminton was never just a game; it was a blessing.
Right from the get-go, Sushi made her presence known as a contender representing Region VI and the National Capital Region at the Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy competitions, where she claimed gold medals in the under-12 singles and doubles categories in 2014.
“’Yong badminton, siya ‘yong nagpaaral sa akin mula elementary to university,” said Ramos.
At the age of 14, her footsteps led her to train with the University of the Philippines (UP) Badminton Varsity Team (BVT) alongside her badminton ates Poca Alcala and Lea Inlayo, who completed UP’s three-peat back in Seasons 77 to 79.
Her skills have earned her the chance to take home bronze medals on the international stage as she competed alongside rising superstars such as Mika De Guzman at the 11th ASEAN School Games back in 2019.
Four years later, she and the Women’s National Team snapped an eight-year podium drought for the Philippines in badminton after taking bronze at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
“Binigay sa akin ni Lord [‘yong chance] na makapaglaro dito sa UAAP stage, sa international stage, [and] at the same time makapag enroll in one of the prestigious schools in the Philippines,” the ace said.
But of course, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. During Sushi’s first stay in Manila, the Hinigaran native not only struggled with the language barrier but also battled against burnout.
“May times na nagsisipag ako, ginagawa ko naman ‘yong best ko para sa results na gusto kong kunin, [pero] hindi pa rin binibigay sa akin,” she recalled, before giving a new perspective on the challenge. “Tine-take ko siya as lessons na, ‘Hindi pa ‘to ‘yong time mo. May time si Lord para sa’yo,’ and doon ako naniniwala.”
With all the medals taken for both region and country, Sushi made sure to fight for something that collegiate sports history will remember her for: repping the Fighting Maroons.
Turning dreams into reality
Her debut in Season 85 was met with high expectations as UP punched its way to the Finals, garnering a chance to take back the crown after a five-year dry spell. However, the Ateneo Blue Eagles had other plans, reigning over their Katipunan rivals and repeating the process the year after.
In Season 87, the light finally cracked open for the Diliman-based squad.
UP and Ateneo faced off for the third time in the championship round, with the Fighting Maroons finally coming out on top in a 3-1 series win to end the Blue Eagles’ four-peat dynasty.
Aside from putting State U as the winningest team in the women’s division with 10 titles, the victory sits close to Sushi’s heart as they brought back the winning ways to Diliman.
The championship marked the end of an eight-year title drought, with the last trophy hoisted by her seniors, Poca and Lea, back in 2016 when she was just starting out with the squad.
“Binuhos namin sa training, binuhos namin lahat sa laro hanggang sa makuha namin ‘yong kampeonato last year,” said Ramos.
In her final playing year, Sushi was not even expecting to return after an injury scare days before Season 88 started, but persisted through her back spasms throughout their campaign to end her collegiate stint on the podium as second runners-up.
So, what’s next?
“I am contented na sa nakamit ko.”
For Sushi, it’s time to change directions for the next chapter of her life.
Backtracking from her first wins to her latest triumphs, the next destination for the UP standout seems to be competing against the nation’s best to suit up as the country’s hope on the international stage.
But for her, that next step of bannering the flag was already a duty she had accomplished years ago.
“’Yong junior years ko and ‘yong senior year ko pinagdaanan ko na rin ‘yong pagiging national team [member],” she said. “So for me, hindi ko na siya inaasam na pumasok pa sa pro leagues ng badminton.”
This time, the shuttler now focuses on serving the people, as she will continue her studies after graduating as magna cum laude from the College of Human Kinetics last July.
“I’m planning to proceed to med school. ‘Yon talaga ‘yong aim ko after ng UAAP […]kasi alam ko may bigger goals pa ako in life.”
Bidding farewell to the taraflex, she extended her gratitude to the UP faithful for their unwavering support for the team throughout her stay.
“I’m very grateful sa support niyo. I’m very much blessed by the people composing the [Fighting] Maroons [and] the UP community kasi during games [and] trainings [ay] ramdam namin ‘yong supporta nila at tiwala sa amin.”
Spending more than a decade training for a journey to remember, she not only improved herself as a student of the game but also grew to become someone who upholds the school’s vision of upholding what is right.
“Noong pumasok ako sa UP, ‘yong freedom of expression [ay] tinuro sa akin ng UP na maging sino ako maging sa loob man o sa labas ng court,” she said. “Maging honest ka sa sarili mo. At the same time, sabihin mo [kung] anong gusto mong sabihin.”
Sushi encouraged those still lacing up the shoes she once wore when starting out in the competitive scene to forge their own path and always have the passion to show up.
“Love the sport that you play,” says Sushi. “‘Di naman ako aabot sa point na nakapag-champion, makapag-UAAP [at] makakalaro sa ibang bansa kung ‘di ko minahal ‘yong badminton.”
As she put down her rackets to rest, Sushi created a mark farther than what the records could show.
In her stint as a Fighting Maroon, she has become a symbol of perseverance and a champion, but most importantly, a proud Iska ng Bayan — the perfect ingredients that make up the Sushi Ramos the UP faithful have known and adored.
