Choco Mucho and Alas middle blocker Maddie Madayag has dipped her toes into the world of international volleyball — and she isn’t closing the door on another chance to do it again.
Maddie Madayag has already tested the waters of international volleyball, but she admits the door remains open for another chapter overseas.
Months removed from her stint with the Kurobe Aqua Fairies in Japan’s V.League, the 27-year-old middle blocker said she is ready to embrace another opportunity should it come.
“If I get another offer, I will definitely take it,” Madayag said on One Sports' Starting Lineup.
Just last year, the former Ateneo Blue Eagle left the Choco Mucho Flying Titans to play abroad.
[ALSO READ: New Chapter: Maddie Madayag heads to Japan for the Kurobe Aqua Fairies]
By then, she became the latest Filipina to break into Japan’s volleyball circuit, following national team captain Jia de Guzman, who once suited up for the Denso AiryBees, Jaja Santiago — now known as Sachi Minowa — who played for JT Marvelous and will next play for Denso, and her sister Dindin, who also became part of Kurobe in 2019.
Nobody said it was easy
The decision, however, did not come easily.
Burdened by doubts after suffering two ACL tears, she admitted she was unsure if her body could still keep up with the demands of international competition.
“I did not expect to get an invitation anymore since I tore my ACL twice. In my head, I was thinking baka hindi ko na kayang makipagsabayan. I’m more careful with my movements kasi it happened twice,” Madayag admitted.
It was only the encouragement of her parents and former coach Dante Alinsunurin that gave her the confidence to take the leap.
“When I told my parents, go sila and I think that also pushed me na they believed in me na kaya ko,” she recalled.
[ALSO READ: Here is Maddie Madayag’s birthday wish]
Finding her footing
Adjusting to life in Japan, however, was another challenge.
Madayag shared that she solicited advice from fellow Filipino players in the Land of the Rising Sun — de Guzman, Minowa, and Marck Espejo — on how to navigate life off the court.
[ALSO READ: What If? Exploring possible PVL destinations for Jaja Santiago, Jia de Guzman, Maddie Madayag]
Her season turned brighter when American middle blocker Nia Grant joined midyear.
“Kami ’yung naging buddies kasi in terms of wavelength, nagkakaintindihan kaming dalawa,” she said, crediting Grant for helping her feel at home.
A different kind of stage
Madayag also noticed a big difference in terms of the crowd atmosphere playing in the Philippines and Japan.
“Dito sa Philippines, kapag may rallies, sumisigaw na 'yung tao. Sa Japan, tahimik lang talaga [yung crowd]. It's very different talaga,” the two-time PVL First Middle Blocker awardee said.
Her one-year stint ended in April, as Kurobe endured a tough season and finished 11th out of 12 teams with a 15-29 record.
[ALSO READ: Maddie Madayag wraps up stint with Kurobe Aqua Fairies in Japan’s SV.League]
Winning homecoming
But she came home not to rest, but to compete.
Back in national colors, Madayag quickly made her mark and helped Alas Pilipinas clinch back-to-back bronze medals in the first two legs of the 2025 SEA V.League.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.