Reporting compelling stories about student-athletes on the sidelines has been a dream ticket for University of the Philippines (UP) UAAP Season 87 courtside correspondent Cheska Ramos.
At just 19 years old, the second-year BA Psychology student is one of the youngest reporters among the eight homegrown sports correspondents representing each UAAP school this season.
“Becoming a UAAP correspondent has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember,” shared Cheska in an interview with Tinig ng Plaridel.
“Watching the courtside reporters confidently deliver in-game stories about players, victories, and challenges always fascinated me… every moment since being announced as UP’s courtside reporter has been so memorable for me,” she added.
She succeeded Industrial Engineering graduate Carla Elizaga, who served in Seasons 85 and 86, representing State U.
Getting the ball rolling
Prior to being an Iska, the young Cheska has forged a deep athletic background, as she spent years being a student-athlete herself.
“My whole life has revolved around sports,” shared the sophomore.
In grade school, Ramos played football before transitioning to volleyball in high school, where she suited up for Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) Greenhills.
Besides her athletic experience, she also drew inspiration from ICA alumni-turned-UAAP Season 85 courtside correspondents Kyla Kingsu of De La Salle University and Gerie Medina of National University.
“Seeing fellow ICA alumni as courtside reporters further fueled my interest, and I wanted to follow in their footsteps and be the one sharing those stories,” said Cheska.
Initially, Cheska was hesitant to audition as a sports correspondent for Season 87, as she was only entering her sophomore year in college.
“Around that time, my friends kept sending me the post about the auditions. I’d tell them, ‘Let’s see, I’m not sure yet since I’m just in my 2nd year.’ But what they didn’t know was that I’d already filmed my video and was planning to submit it,” she quipped.
After a series of tests, Cheska’s risk proved to be all worth it after getting the role.
“That moment feels blurry now but I remember just crying and feeling like everything had come full circle,” said Ramos.
Battle on the sidelines
As the players face their battle on the court, Cheska also encountered her own set of challenges when she debuted as courtside reporter for the Fighting Maroons.
“The loud cheers and drums during the first few games were another major adjustment. At first, I found myself following the fast pace of the crowd, sometimes reading my reports a little faster than usual,” said Ramos.
The Season 87 sports correspondent also shared that it was occasionally difficult to hear essential details clearly during timeouts amidst the roaring fans in the bleachers.
“Over time, I worked on adjusting my tone and pacing to ensure that my reports were clear and impactful, regardless of the intensity of the arena,” she added.
Crafting ‘baon reports’ or pre-prepared player profiles containing athletes’ gameday mindsets, motivations, and personal interests, also helped her find her rhythm on the sidelines.
“My floor director would often ask me to switch focus to someone currently on the court and having those baon reports made adapting to those changes much smoother,” she said.
Moreover, UP’s welcoming culture “made things easier” for her to adjust quickly to a new environment, crediting everyone from the players, coaches, student managers, and fans.
“Seeing how passionately they support the team, win or lose, is truly inspiring. This whole moment always fills me with pride to represent and report for such a supportive school and a team that feels like a family,” Cheska shared.
As the newest courtside reporter for UP, Ramos aims to leave an inspiring legacy for both the UP community and future sports correspondents.
“I hope to be remembered as a reporter who brought out insights that inspired others, from young athletes who dream of playing like the Fighting Maroons to aspiring courtside reporters,” said Ramos.
As she finally fulfilled her long-time dream, Cheska encourages courtside reporting hopefuls to chase their aspirations.
“To aspiring courtside reporters, I want all of you to follow your dreams! Whether you have a background in sports or journalism or not, don’t hesitate to go for it,” she added.
Editor’s note: The original version of this article was submitted to the Online Journalism class (J117) under Danilo Arao.
