PHILIPPINE volleyball lost one of its standard-bearers with the passing of Ruben Labay, a cornerstone of the national men's team's early rise on the Asian stage.
Labay, 83, was among the trailblazers of the men's national team that captured the Philippines' first-ever volleyball medal with a bronze at the 1962 Asian Games.
LOOK:
The Filipinos finished with a 3-2 record in the tournament, placing third behind eventual gold medalist Japan and silver winner Korea.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) honored Labay’s legacy, describing him as a true bastion of the sport’s yesteryears.
“As part of that historic squad, he represented the Philippines with excellence, discipline, and pride, helping elevate the sport on the international stage during its formative years,” the federation said.
At a time when the sport was still in its infancy locally, Labay and his teammates delivered more than just results but also established belief.
That 1962 campaign became a reference point for what Philippine men’s volleyball could achieve, and Labay’s role in it placed him firmly among the sport’s foundational figures.
Their success came without the infrastructure modern athletes enjoy, underscoring the significance of what they accomplished.
Labay and Co.'s imprint is felt in the generations that followed, from the historic silver in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila to the Nationals’ breakthrough home campaign at the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.
“His contribution extends beyond medals and matches. Mr. Labay’s commitment to the game helped lay the foundation of Philippine volleyball, inspiring generations of athletes who continue to carry the flag today,” the PNVF added.
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.
