Every point is not just another step towards victory but a validation of purpose and immense source of pride and personal growth for the athletes who play volleyball.
This World Volleyball Day, we go beyond the games to ask several rising stars and household names one simple question: When did you fall in love with volleyball?
These players also reveal the milestones they’ll never forget—the proudest points in their careers that remind them why they continue to serve, block, spike, and soar.
Here are their stories, in their own words.
Bella Belen
Capital1 Solar Spikers
When did you fall in love with volleyball?
“Siguro nung kinekwento sakin ng tito ko kung ano 'yung experience niya pagdating sa paglalaro ng volleyball kasi hindi siya natuloy eh. I mean, hindi niya tinuloy 'yung paglalaro pero 'yung the way niya sabihin sakin, i-kwento parang dun ako na in love talaga sa paglalaro ng volleyball na sinasabi niya na parang 'yung pride playing for the school and then meeting some new friends, and siyempre parang mas nag-grow siya sa help ng volleyball.”
What is your proudest moment in volleyball?
“Siguro 'yung pumasok and umalis ako sa NU ng maganda. I mean from high school pag pasok ko then paglabas sa college, siguro 'yun na 'yung pinaka-proud ko kasi wala akong pinagsisihan all throughout my career sa NU. Time well spent talaga, kumbaga kulang pa nga 'yung time, so ayun I'm very proud sa naiwan ko with the NU community and sana sila din proud sila. Hopefully, maipagpatuloy nung mga next generations kung anuman 'yung naiwan namin.”
[ALSO READ: Ciao, Bella: Three-time MVP Mhicaela Belen looks back on decade-long UAAP career with NU]
Leo Aringo
Saitama Azalea
When did you fall in love with volleyball?
“Nag-start siya nung Grade 3 ako nung nag-start ako mag-volleyball and then after nung Grade 6 parang okay na 'yung mga achievements then after nun wala na nag-basketball ulit ako. After how many years na na-realize ko na parang mahina 'yung improvement ko sa basketball, napadpad lang ako as in accident lang talagang napadpad ako sa volleyball. Nakita lang ako na naglalaro lang ako. Though marunong akong mag-volleyball pero hindi pang high school level talaga.
Na-face ko na 'yung mga struggles ko, nag-start ako ng Grade 11 na may injury ako, natalo kami, then hindi ako tumigil. Grade 11 talaga parang na-feel ko na dito ako nag-belong na sports.”
[ALSO READ: Leo Aringo vows not to waste ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ as Japan stint looms]
What is your proudest moment in volleyball?
“Proudest moment ko is 'yung siguro dito sa Manila naging champion kami. Proud sila coaches sakin. Proudest moment ko talaga, 'yung pinagmamalaki ako ng family ko na hindi ako maglalaro or maglalaro man ako, bangko man ako or hindi, parang pinagyayabang ako ng family ko.”
AC Miner
ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles
When did you fall in love with volleyball?
"Growing up, I felt like volleyball was the one for me kasi hanggang ginagawa ko pa rin siya. Parang sa volleyball, nakikita ko ‘yung sarili ko na may purpose. This is where my purpose, so I’m very thankful for volleyball."
[ALSO READ: AC Miner happily adjusting to pro play with ZUS after ‘overwhelming’ debut in Montalban]
What is your proudest moment in volleyball?
"Lahat naman ng games naging proud, especially lahat ng mga games na nilalaban namin kasi lahat naman hindi nagpapatalo agad, lahat lumalaban and I’m proud na masabi ko na lumaban kami today sa bago kong team."
Jackie Acuña
Cignal HD Spikers
When did you fall in love with volleyball?
“Actually, na love at first sight ako sa volleyball, the moment na nahawakan ko 'yung bola parang this is it, this is my calling.”
[ALSO READ: PVL: Jackie Acuña applies lessons from Cignal coaches, veterans for huge leap as middle blocker]
What is your proudest moment in volleyball?
“'Yung nakuha ko 'yung first award ko, hindi lang sa professional, sa buong career ko sa volleyball. Nakuha ko siya sa PVL and thank you Lord.”
Gel Cayuna
Cignal HD Spikers
When did you fall in love with volleyball?
“Since high school na in love na ako sa volleyball. Parang hindi nga lang na in love eh, parang na-obsess pa.”
What is your proudest moment in volleyball?
“Proudest moment ko until now nandito parin ako sa Cignal tsaka naka-award na din.”
[ALSO READ: PVL: After winning her 4th Best Setter award, Gel Cayuna eyes championship goal with Cignal]
Erika Santos
Cignal HD Spikers
When did you fall in love with volleyball?
“Honestly, nung Grade 7 ako, ayoko lang mag-PE, so parang ginamit ko 'yung volleyball para 'di ako mag-PE. Tapos parang na-fall na ako sa volleyball kasi kapag stressed, kapag masaya, kapag ups and downs parang maglaro ka lang, mawawala 'yung stress.”
[ALSO READ: PVL: Erika Santos shines in Cignal debut, eager to keep learning]
What is your proudest moment in volleyball?
“Siguro mas naging connected ng family ko on a deeper level kasi nanonood, masaya sila.”
Tin Tiamzon
Cignal HD Spikers
When did you fall in love with volleyball?
“Na-in-love ako sa volleyball nung para siyang alam mo 'yung hindi mo alam na na-fall ka na para sa isang tao. First love ko kasi talaga basketball, eh walang coach sa basketball, so sabi ko try ko nga itong volleyball. Ayun na in-love na ako.”
[ALSO READ: Tin Tiamzon signs with Cignal HD Spikers, marks PVL return]
What is your proudest moment in volleyball?
“Career-wise, isang highlight lang talaga 'yung maiisip ko which is 'yung high five galing kay coach Ramil [De Jesus]. Malaking bagay 'yun kasi si coach Ramil doesn't really show 'yung emotions niya tapos para makuha mo 'yung reassurance from your coach like that, sobrang nakaka-proud.”
On World Volleyball Day, we celebrate not just their victories on the court, but the personal journeys that brought them here and the inspiration they now pass on to future generations.
Here’s to the game we love. Happy World Volleyball Day!