SYDNEY Calderon has come a long way from working late-night shifts as a call center agent to going above and beyond to fulfill her childhood dream — and more.
Her first-ever Spikers’ Turf head coaching stint saw the Savouge Spin Doctors win bronze in the 2024 Invitational Conference, highlighted by a huge elimination round five-set upset victory over perennial champion Cignal.
READ: Savouge puts shine on LGBTQ+ athletes in fiery Spikers' Turf run
Calderon’s trailblazing journey to the podium had its fair share of gambits and sacrifices she’d forever be thankful to have taken at a young age.
Arguably the biggest one she had to let go? Playing college volleyball, as she had to become a working student in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry to provide for her daily needs.
“Since elementary ako, volleyball player (setter) na rin talaga ako until college. Pero yun nga, hindi ko natupad yung pangarap ko na madire-diretso ko siya hanggang college kasi nag-work ako kaagad as a call center agent before,” Calderon shared with SPIN.ph.
“Sabi ko, ‘pag once na magkaroon ako ng opportunity, ‘pag nakaluwag-luwag ako sa buhay, since palagi akong nanonood ng Spikers’ Turf dati, dream ko talaga magtayo ng team.”
Sydney's brand-building
Then came the next chapter of Calderon’s life as an entrepreneur and beauty guru when she built local cosmetics clinic Savouge Aesthetics in 2021.
In the early goings of her time as Savouge CEO, she yet again had to hit pause on her volleyball aspirations to focus on her corporate duties.
When Savouge finally took off, Calderon shared how a life-altering chat with her former volleyball teammates gave her a long-awaited go signal to build her very own Spikers’ Turf team she’s always dreamt of.
“Inuna ko muna ‘yung business kasi I have to generate income first before I can put up a team. Sabi ko, I'll make it successful, I'll make it to the point na dapat maging successful itong business na ito,” she shared.
“After three years, nagpahinga talaga ako sa volleyball. Never ako nagpakita na nung three years na ‘yun. Sabi ko, focus talaga ako sa business.
“Then after three (more) years, bumalik ako sa volleyball and then sabi ko sa mga dating kong ka-teammates, I think it's time for me na magtayo na ng team sa Spiker’s Turf.”
And so, the Savouge Spin Doctors were born.
Working 10 to 5 - and beyond
It was the late veteran coach Sammy Acaylar who first held the reins of the Spin Doctors before Calderon herself took over and won bronze in last year’s Invitational Conference.
While her volleyball aspirations were already in full swing, there was no letting go of her CEO duties with her brainchild beauty brand.
How does she do it? Mornings for her clinic and evenings for her volleyball team.
“Morning from 10 a.mm to 5 p.mm as a CEO ako. Then 5 p.m. onwards, hanggang 10 p.m. ‘yun, as a head coach,” Calderon said.
“I make sure I have time sa business at the same time sa team ko kasi it's very crucial to develop din ng relationship with your team para pagdating sa laro, ‘yung communication namin, maayos din kami maglaro.
“With me as their head coach since last season, nagbigay talaga ako ng time sa kanila para ma-build yung relationship namin together.”
Representation always matters
Gender stigmas have long plagued Calderon’s rise in both of her roles in the corporate and sporting worlds.
Once rejected by teams for being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Savouge’s coach-slash-CEO made it her life’s mission to leverage her fellow queer athletes onto a platform where they can unapologetically shine and be their best and true selves.
“Pangarap ko talaga, one day sana, I’m hoping na lahat ng mga future graduates ng mga UAAP, NCAA na part ng LGBTQ+ community, sana mapili ‘yung Savouge,” said Calderon.
“Priority ko talaga with my team is the LGBTQ+ community na sila ‘yung mabigyan ng chance kasi mostly, sila ‘yung mas nade-deny ng mga traditional teams talaga na alam naman natin na malakas maglaro pero given ‘yung gender nila, parang (nao-off) sila doon.
“When I was a player din before, naranasan ko rin ‘yan. I know how it feels na ma-reject. Ang maganda lang sa’min kasi ngayon, ‘yung diversity ng team namin, ‘yung inclusivity. Hindi lang puro LGBTQ+ members, together with straights din. I'm happy to see na nag-work together and nagja-jive talaga sila ngayon.”
And so, that bronze medal meant more than just sporting success for Calderon. It was a testament to her perseverance and penetration of gender-based societal stigmas that have resonated loudly within volleyball's heteronormative arenas.
She once took a chance on herself to dream big. Now, it's her queer players shining brightly under the lights and living dreams they once would've never thought possible.
As she put it, "Ito na yung dream ko, which is, 'yung mga players ko na ang tumutupad ng dream ko. Ako, nandito lang ako to support them."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
