Volleybelles galore: ‘Have looks, will kill’

MANILA, Philippines – The advent of regularly-conducted, televised volleyball games has provided today’s players with the venue to passionately play the game they love and strut their stuff before a wider audience.

And Pinay volleybelles have taken full advantage of this, showcasing high-flying skills and competitive spirit to capture the hearts of viewers and sports lovers.

Here are some of the brightest stars today.

Alyssa Valdez (Ateneo/PLDT Home Ultera)

Alyssa Valdez is dubbed “The Phenom” of Philippine Volleyball – and for good reason.

The 22-year-old superstar has dazzled with a hitting prowess that’s as sharp and deadly as the famous balisong of her province Batangas.

She punched in a record 35 points not once but twice. Valdez first achieved the feat in a losing game to Adamson in the second round of the elims of UAAP Season 76. Then bucking flu, she exploded with the same output in leading PLDT to victory over powerhouse Army in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference just last May.

The charming Batangueña validated her status as a volleyball heavyweight when she skippered Ateneo to its first UAAP women’s volleyball tiara in 2013, a triumph made sweeter by the way the Lady Eagles wiped out the thrice-to-beat advantage of rival La Salle in the finals.

The following year, Valdez took charge as the Lady Eagles swept their way to back-to-back crowns.

Valdez won her maiden title under the PLDT banner in V-League’s Season 12 Open Conference, spicing the triumph with the MVP and First Best Spiker plums.

Rachel Anne Daquis (Phil Army/Petron)

Rachel Anne Daquis landed a stint as cover girl of FHM Philippines in October 2014, proof of her undeniable beauty and sex appeal.

But “Queen RAD” has proven she’s more than just a pretty face and whistle-bait figure.

The 27-year-old open hitter/outside hitter owns two titles with Philippine Army in the Shakey’s V-League and actually has a third with her alma mater FEU. This collection is ornamented by the Season MVP (Season 11 Open Conference) and a pair of Finals MVP plums (Season 8 Open, Season 11 Open).

Crossing over to the Philippine Super Liga, Daquis copped three gold medals with Army (2013 Invitational, 2013 Grand Prix and 2014 All Filipino). She joined the Petron Blaze Spikers this year and helped them claim the 2015 All Filipino diadem, topping off the feat with the MVP accolade.

Jovelyn Gonzaga (Phil Army)

Ilongga Jovelyn Gonzaga first burst into the scene in 2012 when she suited up as guest player for University of St. La Salle in the Shakey’s V-League.

Brandishing a mix of beauty and talent, Gonzaga immediately caught the eyes of fans and coaches and has since earned her rightful place in the elite.

The 24-year-old opposite hitter already won two V-League titles with Army and is determined to go for No. 3 in the ongoing Season 12 Reinforced Conference, where the undefeated Lady Troopers enjoy twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.

Gonzaga also has three crowns in the Philippine Super Liga as stalwart of the Lady Troopers side that ruled the 2013 Invitational, 2013 Grand Prix and 2014 All Filipino tourneys.

As validation of her leadership qualities, Gonzaga was chosen to captain the Philippine team when it made its return to the Southeast Asian Games last June in Singapore.

 Aby Maraño (Phil Army/Petron)

With her fierce intensity and beast-like howls on the court, Aby Maraño brings a lot of swagger to every team she plays with.

The 5-foot-9 middle hitter played her part during her college days with La Salle, helping the powerhouse Lady Spikers achieve a three-peat from Seasons 73-75. Her collegiate career saw a bitter end, though, as rival Ateneo denied DLSU a four-peat on her final year.

After her stint as corporate communications associate at Meralco post-college, Maraño is back displaying her “beast mode” on the court.

The Antipolo-based star suited up for AirAsia and Generika in the Philippine Super Liga last year and Petron this year, joining hands with her teammates in conquering the All Filipino meet.

Maraño brought her act to the Shakey’s V-League as well, first seeing action for PLDT and Meralco before linking up with the Philippine Army Lady Troopers.

Gretchen Ho (Petron)

Gretchen Ho was part of the “Fab 5” of the Ateneo Lady Eagles in the UAAP. Although her batch fell short of its golden bid in the league, she caught the fancy of volleyball fans with her playing skills plus chinita good looks.

Ho, 25, did win titles for Ateneo in the Shakey’s V-League (Season 8’s first and second conferences). Upon graduation from college play, the famous open/middle spiker joined Petron Blaze Spikers in the Philippine Super Liga, helping them dominate the 2014 Grand Prix Tournament.

With a gift of gab and intelligence, Ho has successfully established her presence as a media personality, too. She’s currently co-hosting Gameday Weekend on ABS Sports + Action and Balls Channel, and previously landed hosting gigs for sports-oriented programs Team U, and The Score on ABS-CBN and Chinoy TV on PTV4. Ho also served as guest anchor on TV Patrol last September.

Dindin Santiago-Manabat (Philippine Army/Petron)

Six-foot-two middle hitter Dindin Santiago-Manabat was the first of the “Santiago Twin Towers” to stand tall in Philippine volleyball.

Dindin got a gold medal in her brief stint with University of Santo Tomas Tigresses in the UAAP but settled for bronze when she transferred to National U.

The 22-year-old Dindin proved more successful in the commercial leagues. She was victorious in the Shakey’s V-League twice under the NU banner (Season 10 First Conference and Season 12 Collegiate Conference) and earned the nod as MVP in Seasons 10 and 11 First Conferences.

She was tabbed first overall pick in the 2014 Philippine Super Liga draft by Petron and helped the club stamp its class in the 2014 Grand Prix and 2015 All Filipino.

Dindin also played for Philippine Army in the V-League Season 12 Open Conference as guest, a stint highlighted by a face-off with sis Jaja of PLDT in an epic five-set finale last May.

Jaja Santiago (NU/PLDT)

At 6-foot-4, Jaja Santiago simply towers over everyone in the local scene. With her long arms and timing, Jaja has become a feared middle blocker for National U in the UAAP and PLDT in the Shakey’s V-League.

Last May, the 19-year-old Jaja engaged her Ate Dindin in an exciting duel for Season 12 Open Conference crown. A point away from the title, PLDT went to Jaja for the clincher and she outsmarted Dindin, a guest player for Philippine Army, by tapping it home instead of launching a powerful spike. Jaja also earned the nod as Finals MVP.

The Santiago Towers returned to the V-League in the next tournament, the Season 12 Collegiate Conference, but this time wearing the same colors – NU. The Lady Bulldogs went on to win the diadem over Ateneo in three games.

Jaja Santiago’s skills are noticed not only by Pinoy fans. Last May, she saw action for the Philippines in the Asian Women’s Under-23 tilt in Manila and no less than China’s top player Liu Yanhan said she was impressed by the tall Pinay.

During the said tourney, Chinese Taipei officials also expressed interest in acquiring Santiago for their club back home.

Cha Cruz (Meralco Power Spikers)

The Philippine Super Liga named Cha Cruz as the league’s new ambassador last April, citing the 5-foot-8 stars’ charming personality and wholesome image both inside and outside the court.

Cruz, 27, brings with her a stellar resume from her college days at La Salle. She owns four titles with the Lady Spikers with two Finals MVP trophies to boot.

In the PSL, Cruz was adjudged First Best Spiker in the 2015 All Filipino, where her team Shopinas.com took runner-up honors behind Petron. She’s currently the skipper of Meralco in the PSL GP.

Aside from volleyball, Cruz also has the passion for teaching. A BS psychology graduate who’s taking up Masters in Special Education, Cruz teaches English and Math for Grade 2 students at International School of Manila.

Michele Gumabao (Philips Gold)

Michele Gumabao surely has the pedigree to be a star. Daughter of actor Dennis Roldan, Gumabao possesses the physical attributes that deserve spots on TV and in print. The 5-foot-10 stunner then mixed this up with volleyball skills that led to a successful stint with De La Salle University in the UAAP.

Gumabao, 23, won three UAAP diadems back in college and was adjudged Finals MVP once.

After gigs as TV analyst for the Shakey’s V-League and a celebrity housemate in Pinoy Big Brother All-In, Gumabao returned to playing.

She serves as captain for the Lady Slammers, leading them to third place in the Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino meet. Gumabao also won the Best Opposite Spiker award in the tourney.

Gretchel Soltones (San Sebastian/PLDT)

Reigning NCAA MVP Gretchel Soltones  is regarded as one of the strongest hitters in collegiate play.

As a rookie for San Sebastian in 2013, there was a game wherein she dumped 31 on Arellano. In the past Season 90, the Cebuana ace helped the Lady Stags post a 6-0 start, scoring 32 and 28 in their fourth and sixth games, respectively.

She won the beach volley crown in 2014 in partnership with Czarina Berbano.

Soltones, 20, brought her act to the Shakey’s V-League with the PLDT Home Ultera. Proving she belongs, Soltones earned Player of the Game honors as the Ultra Fast Hitters beat University of the Philippines in a Season 12 Reinforced Conference matchup last Oct. 31.

In a previous Season 12 Open Conference outing, Soltones linked up well with UAAP counterpart Alyssa Valdez as they carried the scoring cudgels  (21 and 25, respectively) in beating Cagayan.

Soltones likewise answered the call of the country and played in the Asian Under-23 tilt.