There is no doubt that more Filipinos support volleyball now that the sport has become extremely popular in the Philippines. While the Philippines has long been known for its three B's—basketball, boxing, and beauty pageants—volleyball appears to be setting itself a distinct spot and perhaps joining the Pinoy Craze. Play after play, with yells echoing across arenas and sold-out, blockbuster ticket sales, the nation becomes the new beating heart of volleyball.
Initially, fans have taken notice of the local leagues inside the nation due to their audience impact and loud spikes. The National University Bulldogs, for example, bites history in May 2024 by claiming the women's and men's championships in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). It seemed to coincide with the outstanding performances of Creamline Coolsmashers' Alyssa Valdez and Choco Mucho Flying Titans' Deanna Wong in each year's conference, both star players of the Philippine Volleyball League (PVL).
With the formation of its own formidable national roster for engagement in international contests, the Alas Pilipinas, the Filipino national pride has achieved yet another milestone. The women's Alas Pilipinas volleyball team earned a lot of buzz and admiration in the recent Asian Volleyball Cup (AVC) after making history with their bronze medal win and first podium finish in 63 years last June 2024. The said team is currently getting ready to compete in the Ninoy Aquino Stadium for the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Women's Challenger's Cup, which will take place from July 4th to the 7th.
Plus, just recently, the Philippines successfully hosted the Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Tournament, which brought together 8 teams from around the world. Joining the last day of the tour in the Philippines are the fan-favorite teams from the United States and Japan, who are competing for a spot in the quarterfinals. Volleyball superstars from Japan's Team Ryujin Nippon, including Ran Takahashi, Yuki Ishikawa, and Yuji Nishida, as well as foreign icons like Micah Christenson of Team USA, were the object of intense fan devotion from Filipino fans and even local celebrities. A sellout audience of 12,424 Filipinos packed the Mall of Asia Arena for the contest between the United States and Japan. In the thrilling match, Japan played to their strengths, defeating the Americans in straight sets to seal the deal for the Manila Leg.
Testimonies from individuals like Filipino-American Team Manager David Dantes indicates that the growth of volleyball in the Philippines has had a profound effect on the Filipino people and has opened doors to global recognition. Volleyball phenom, Alyssa Valdez, has also pointed out that the Philippines is now primarily a volleyball nation.
With its consistent triumphs, this sport has now achieved the renown it deserves and brought national pride. Despite volleyball's longstanding link with females in the Philippines, the sport has evolved to attract fans of all ages and genders. This has demonstrated the long-awaited growth of athletics across the nation, elevating every individual and nation to the level of potential glory from merely a vision, now becoming a reality.