ports enthusiasts and volleyball fans cheer for the Philippines’ finest athletes competing at the SEA Games in Manila

For the Philippine volleyball teams, their drought of medals at the SEA Games for over a decade is a huge challenge to overcome—especially after a long, storied history of victory and domination in the regional tournament back in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

While the mission was always to get Philippine volleyball back to its winning ways, the road to accomplishing that was not always easy. For various reasons, the sport was plagued by a lack of tangible support. If previous national teams were able to win, they had to do so in spite of all of these circumstances.

“Lahat lalaban, para sa bayan,” says Alyssa Valdez on the PH team’s campaign in the 30th SEA Games. (Photo from Alyssa Valdez (@AlyssaValdez2) on Twitter)

In 2019, however, things changed for both the Philippine indoor and beach volleyball teams. Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc., the organization that helped form the Philippine volleyball teams, reached out to companies such as Rebisco for a partnership, allowing them to step up and provide everything the country’s volleyball delegates need in order to train and perform even better not only at this year’s SEA Games, but also in other tournaments around the world.

“Rebisco showed interest in helping the national team and initiated everything. With their help, as well as contributions from different organizations, we were able to train for the games earlier,” said men’s indoor volleyball team captain John Vic de Guzman. “We also received income and allowances every time we trained, as well as better training facilities and equipment such as the Arellano University gym which we were able to use thanks to Mr. Pete Cayco, and the Ronac Fitness Center, which we were able to use thanks to Ms. Peachy and Dindo Medina from Uratex.”

The PH men’s volleyball team wins as one. (Photo courtesy of Carmela Tunay (@carmelatoo08) on Twitter)

“Before, only 12 to 14 players could train, but with the support of different organizations and Rebisco, around 20 players can now join, allowing for bigger tune-ups and scrimmages,” said women’s indoor volleyball team captain Aby Maraño. “We also got more local exposure after featuring us on social media and commercials, as well as international exposure as they helped us participate in more tournaments and training camps outside the country.”

“Each athlete dreams of representing their country, there’s no better feeling. Now we’re more prepared because more corporations like Rebisco are helping our team,” said women’s beach volleyball representative Sisi Rondina.

With the crucial support Rebisco is giving the Philippine volleyball teams, the country’s delegates stand a stronger and better chance to win big at the 2019 SEA Games and reclaim the glory of years past. There’s still time to support all teams as the SEA Games indoor and beach volleyball tournaments are currently running at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig and the Subic Tennis Center, respectively, until December 10.

The PH men and women’s volleyball team for the 30th SEA Games

Aside from backing the Philippine volleyball teams, Rebisco also continues to do its part in advancing the local volleyball scene in the country. The company hosts the Rebisco Volleyball League, a grassroots tournament that showcases the Philippines’ up-and-coming players, and the Rebisco Beach Volleyball International Open with 20 teams from around the world; the company also fields two teams in the professional Premiere Volleyball League in the Creamline Cool Smashers and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.

For more info and updates on the Philippine volleyball teams, follow Rebisco Pilipinas on Facebook (facebook.com/RebiscoSambansa/), and on Twitter and Instagram at @RebiscoSambansa. For updates on beach volleyball, follow @PHBeachVolley on Twitter.

The Philippine National Volleyball training pools are currently working hard to bring their A-game in this year’s Southeast Asian Games to be held in the Philippines this coming November. Whatever the final line-ups will be, the men’s and women’s teams will continue a storied tradition of volleyball excellence when they step on the court to represent our country.

Current volleyball fans may be familiar with today’s collegiate and professional stars, but did you know that the Philippines has produced top players for decades? Philippine volleyball has had quite the glorious history, thanks to the contributions of these five legendary volleybelles:

The Philippines has been a superpower in volleyball, especially on the women’s side, ever since it was introduced to the SEA Games in 1977, with the Women’s National Volleyball team ranking second behind Thailand in gold medals won.

Those powerhouse teams were fronted by the likes of Nene Ybanez-Chavez, the 6’1” legend from Southwestern University in Cebu who helped the Philippines dominate the SEA Games in the early ‘90s. She’s best known for leading the women’s team to its last SEA gold in the 1993 games in Singapore, earning the MVP and Best Spiker honors along the way. Possessing extraordinary endurance in the sport, Ybanez-Chavez played competitively until 2013, and now continues to make her mark in Philippine volleyball by coaching a team in the Philippine Super Liga professional league.
The mother of the famous Ravena phenoms in Philippine basketball is a former volleyball champion in her own right. Mozzy Crisologo-Ravena, the volleyball analyst/sportscaster and University of Santo Tomas alumna, was a two-time UAAP volleyball champion from 1988 to 1992. She also represented the country as a part of the Philippine Youth team in 1988 and the seniors’ team from 1988 to 1989. Today, her legacy lives on through her daughter Dani Ravena, who plays volleyball for the Ateneo Lady Eagles.

Before Philippine volleyball went mainstream via the collegiate scene, there was Mary Jean Balse-Pabayo, holding up the sport in the country. Balse-Pabayo, from Tagum City, Davao del Norte, is another champion UST alumna and one of the players who carried the Philippines to a bronze medal in the 2005 SEA Games. Balse-Pabayo is still going strong today, currently playing for the Philippine Army Lady Troopers in the Philippine Super Liga and also the Premier Volleyball League, where she is a two-time champion.

One of the sport’s most successful players, Tina Salak has a storied career representing the country as part of the national team for many years, with huge wins such as the silver finish in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1995 and bronze in Manila in 2005. She also competed in the 2015 SEA Games held in Singapore.

Salak also has a rich professional career, with 10 seasons logged in the Shakey’s V-League and the Philippine Super Liga, where she won five championships and six medals with the Philippine Army Lady Troopers. She’s since retired, going on to work as a coach in the PSL.

One of Philippine volleyball’s contemporary stars, Angeli Tabaquero is a renowned collegiate champion, having won titles as part of the UST Golden Tigresses. Tabaquero also represented the country as a member of the Philippine National Team in the 2013 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, and as part of the PLDT Home Tvolution national team in another stint in the 2014 Asian Club Championship. An unfortunate injury forced her to retire in 2016 and become a coach for the Adamson Lady Falcons.

The road to the 2019 SEA Games continues

The Philippine Men’s and Women’s National Volleyball Team will compete against the rest of the region from November 28 to December 10 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila. The athletic firepower of current volleyball stars like Alyssa Valdez and Aby Marano brings bright prospects in making the Philippines a regional powerhouse in the international volleyball scene once again.

With the steadfast support of organizations and companies like Rebisco, the national teams will be looking to bring pride and glory to the Philippines when they give their all on the court. Together, Filipinos will again cheer for the national team fighting as Sambansa – or one nation – under the colors of our flag.

Rebisco has been a proponent of Philippine volleyball and various organizations and leagues that comprise it. Aside from supporting the Philippine national team in this year’s SEA Games, Rebisco has also backed the Philippine Women’s Volleyball Team in the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia. The company is also committed to developing the future of the sport with the newly-launched 18-and-under Rebisco Volleyball League.

For more info and updates on the Philippine National Volleyball Team, follow Rebisco Pilipinas on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @RebiscoSambansa.