The Cotabato State University men's beach volleyball team successfully brought home silver medals after beating five colleges during the Mindanao Association of State Tertiary Schools, Inc. (MASTS) Friendship Game 2023, held on Sept. 10-15 at Arakan, North Cotabato.

The colleges they crushed were Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU), J. H. Cecilies State College (JHCSC), Jew Jawi Regional Agriculture College (TRAC), and Davao del Norte State College (DNSC).

The CotSU athletes were Abraham A. Kusain and Ceejay B. Sta. Cruz, both former indoor volleyball players who turned beach volleyball players.

According to their trainer, Mr. John Bernard A. Reoyan, the players possessed teamwork skills and exerted their best to win the competition. "Despite pa ngayon lang nag-partner si Ceejay at Abraham, mabilis nila na build yung connection and chemistry nila as partners at hindi na masama 'yun dahil they are both from indoor volleyball and converted to sand court or beach volleyball," said Reoyan.

Furthermore, in asking Ceejay regarding the dominant reason for their success, he said, "Yung tiwala sa isa't isa". Additionally, he left a message to his fellow CotSUans on behalf of his team, "My message to all CotSUans, as the silver medalist in beach volleyball men is to focus on your goal and always trust your partner; build more chemistry."

This achievement of Ceejay and Abraham is a great honor for the university and an inspiration to all athletes to strengthen their teamwork and always try something new. It is a testimony that success comes in different corners of life, and exploration is the best way to find it.