BEFORE Marck Espejo’s rise to prominence, he was once in a situation in which such a meteoric ascent seemed highly unlikely.
Not known to many was how the ‘Phenom’ of Philippine men’s volleyball had to work his way from the ground up as he was once overlooked in his first year in the high school ranks.
It was to a point where he wasn’t just sidelined at the start of his foray at the Santa Elena High School - Marikina.
READ: Bagunas, Espejo join forces anew to show how far PH volleyball has come
Espejo shared with SPIN.ph how he had to earn his stripes by picking up volleyballs on the court and even having to consume the team’s sporting drinks so that there won’t be leftovers at the end of a long training day.
“Nag-start po kasi ako mag-volleyball, Grade 6 pa,” Espejo recalled.
“Pagpasok ko po kasi nu’ng first year high school, ‘yung iba kong teammates, ginagawa namin kapag may games, taga-ubos kami ng Gatorade, taga-pulot ng bola.”
What Espejo considered a surprise break was given to him as a sophomore in high school by virtue of his seniors’ departures from the team.
Little did he know at the time that he wasn’t just being held to smaller support roles from the sidelines.
He was being set up for something greater.
“Nu’ng second year high school ko po, ‘yung ibang teammates ko, umalis na ng school kaya nabigyan ako ng chance na maging core ng team,” said Espejo.
“Hanggang nu’ng nag-fourth year ako, nagtuloy-tuloy na po [‘yung career ko] at du’n ako nakilala ni coach Oliver [Almadro].”
His high school career also saw him compete in various regional and national meets, capped by a prestigious best attacker nod in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa.
Destined for a phenomenal future
Almadro knew he had a gem in his hand in Espejo when he recruited him to Katipunan.
It turned out he wasn’t just a top-tier talent. He was a born leader, a proven champion and an unrivaled history-maker.
Espejo led Ateneo to three UAAP titles from Seasons 77 to 79 and won Season MVP in all five years he played for the blue-and-white.
The accolades and championships came pouring in as he took on the club volleyball stage until eventually reaching the national team scene.
Over a decade later, Espejo admits still having to pinch himself for the surreal and once-unimaginable path his career and life have both taken.
“Hindi ko naman po talaga ine-expect ‘yung ganito kasi ginamit ko lang po talagang instrument ‘yung volleyball nu’ng high school para makapasok sa magandang school,” Espejo said.
“Kaya happy ako na nakapasok ako sa magandang school and at the same time, nakaabot ako sa ganitong level sa career ko.”
From chasing balls in high school, Espejo now has the chance to chase his grandest breakthrough yet at the world stage with Alas Pilipinas in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship on home soil.
Before looking ahead to the biggest competition he’ll ever get a shot at shining on, the ‘Phenom’ looked back on his days as ‘ball boy Marck’ with a heartfelt message-slash-personal battlecry as he flies the flag once more.
“To young me, salamat sa patience at hard work. Nandito ka na kaya sana ipagpatuloy mo at ibigay mo yung best mo sa darating na World Championship,” Espejo said.
“Personally, sa mga fans, hindi ko po mapa-promise na mananalo kami every set, every game, pero we will do our best para makadikit sa teams at maipakita po namin kung anong meron tayong mga Filipino at kung ano ang Philippine volleyball.”
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