With the start of the NCAA Season 99, court stories and game results flood our feed, yet the unsung hero, the eyes and ears of the court are often overlooked. Take a closer look at the art of courtside reporting with The Benildean’s official interview with Benilde ID121 SHRIM student and courtside reporter, Liezl Anne Nierves.
As an events host in high school, Nierves dreamed of hearing her voice around the world. Her enthusiasm and passion for the dream resonated in her voice as she shared the opportunity that presented itself to her last September.
For her, being able to get up close and hear the stories on how the teams prepare for their games and even stories on how players got their jersey numbers is an honor.
“At the end of the day, we only see what’s happening on court and we don't see the journey of how these teams or players were able to get to their position [...] it’s a privilege to get to know that and that’s something about our job that really intrigued me the most, that’s why I took on the challenge to take it,” she remarked.
While Nierves decided to apply for the job, she was not without doubts. Her lack of experience with sports and respect for the teams filled her with uncertainty. “When I first got the job, I'd be lying if I said I was happy. I was really scared because it’s a big responsibility to be able to go on television and report on these teams, not just our team in Benilde.”
Dribbling the mix of emotions on the courtside
“Overwhelming” is the word Nierves used to describe her first time reporting, “It’s a very different point of view when you’re sitting in a courtside seat rather than in an audience – very overwhelming […]”
Her experience opened her eyes to the reality of being a courtside reporter and instilled a sense of admiration for her predecessors. She continues, “[…] ever since I had that experience it’s like I had this extreme respect for all reporters out there because mainly, writing a report is one thing, but to be able to deliver it live and not get distracted by all the other factors surrounding us is definitely hard.”
With the added pressure to remain poised and composed, reporting is more difficult than it seems. Nierves shared the biggest misconception people have about courtside reporters. “Main misconception is we have a teleprompter—we don’t use a teleprompter. We write our own reports, we do our reports live while the game is ongoing and we memorize our reports.”
To manage the stress, Nierves likens herself to an athlete; she shares that she stays calm and collected during a game. “When you’re on court, you can't have a lot of things in your head, you gotta relax, take your time, manage everything one thing at a time.” Despite the difficulty of the job, Nierves’ enthusiasm shone through her interview expressing her appreciation and passion for what she does.
More than just a reporter
Her dedication to the job extends beyond the court, using the slow days in her work immersion, Nierves writes reports, contacts players, and visits training to gain a deeper understanding of the teams. For her, they are more than just reporters, they’re storytellers. “To be able to talk to the players and coaches firsthand, to get to know what kind of experiences they had coming into their games, that’s the most exciting thing about our job.”
The commitment Nierves puts out as a storyteller led her to her most memorable experience yet—when she visited Mapua University to interview the players during one of their practices.
“Ikaw ‘yung unang reporter na pumunta sa amin,” she recalls one of the players saying to her. The experience was heartwarming for her and reminded her of the teachings as a trainee and the essence of a courtside reporter.
“During our training, they told us that courtside reporters are the eyes and ears inside and outside the court. Not only inside, wherein we see what's happening inside the game, we also get stories from the players outside the court [...] Their journey to be that good is not easy, and that’s our job to know what journey that was, what path they took and the sacrifices they made to get to that point.” she expressed.
How Benilde reignited Nierves’ passion
Balancing courtside reporting, work immersion, and school responsibilities is no easy feat, Nierves highlights time management and attributes her skill to her experience as a “BS-Org” student. She sincerely thanks all her organizations for her learnings and her mentor, Sir Karl John Rivera, in the Vateliens In Progress who trusted her to host an event in Benilde, which rekindled her passion for hosting in college and gave her the confidence to take on different jobs.
As the NCAA season just started with the theme “New Heroes of the Game,” Nierves is excited to see what else is in store for her along with the other sports she will be covering. So far, the season has been exciting and all over the place for her.
“The best thing about my job is not knowing what’s gonna happen in a game. For me, the thrill and the excitement of the stories that I'll be reporting on, what experiences the teams had during their training keeps me at the edge of my seat,” she shared.
When asked about her most unforgettable experience during this season, Nierves shared that despite how overwhelming courtside reporting can be, she still values each day of the job no matter what. To her, every story is important, not just for the players but also for the viewers.
“I think that’s the most memorable thing for me, to be able to see and hear what stories I have to report on.”
From being a mere idea at the back of her mind to taking the leap, Nierves found an unexpected pursuit that goes beyond reporting. To her, it has been an overwhelming yet fulfilling journey, but it continues to be an opportunity she is thankful for taking.
“To those aspiring courtside reporters, all I have to say is just take the leap—‘yun lang, go! kasi you don't know what will happen ‘di ba?”
