A new Spikers Turf team is in the works — and one bent on giving a brighter spotlight for the LGBTQIA+ community in the local volleyball scene.
Fresh off a second-straight bronze medal in the 2025 Open Conference, Savouge Spin Doctors head coach Sydney Calderon said she is planning to step down from her post to play again for her prospective new team.
READ: How Sydney Calderon went from call center agent to Savouge CEO, coach
From being rejected by club teams for being part of the community, Calderon’s long-term goal is to spare other aspiring LGBTQIA+ volleyball players from the same fate.
“This would be my last stint as head coach. You might be seeing me cheering my team from the other side or you might be seeing me playing next [conference]. Yun na lang hihintayin,” Calderon said shortly after Savouge’s bronze-clinching 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 sweep of VNS-Laticrete.
“We were actually talking with Ms. Mozzy [Ravena]. Planning akong magtayo pa ng isang team which is empowering talaga the LGBT [community]. Yung isang team talaga, all-LGBT talaga yun. “Yun yung pangarap ko and hopefully, sana, ma-approve yun. Definitely, kapag na-approve yun, you might be seeing me play for my other team.”
Calderon, who played as a setter from elementary to college, built cosmetic brand Savouge Aesthetics in 2021 as its chief operating officer.
Then came the Spin Doctors a few years later.
While nothing is set in stone for the next conference, her immediate focus is to look for a coaching successor.
“Mag-iinterview ako ng mga possible head coaches na papalit sa’kin. If ever man na may bago sa’min, I can still put myself as a head coach pero definitely, yung assistant coach ko yung makikita ninyo kapag kailangan nila sa semifinals or finals. Hopefully, sana, nandun na."
Two steps forward, one more to go
To continue Savouge's winning ways, Calderon believes that her team still needs an added dash of maturity in terms of controlling one's emotions when backed against the wall.
"Skills-wise, okay talaga yung team ko. Yun yung number one na proud ako. Yung pinaka-challenge lang din talaga siguro namin is yung emotion nila ba, kung paano mag-handle during pressure [moments sa] games," said Calderon.
"Du’n lang kami natalo. Masyado pa sigurong bata yung team namin knowing na bago lang din naman talaga si Savouge. Pang-fourth conference pa lang namin, but hopefully, next conference, yun talaga yung ite-train namin, yung maturity kasi yung skills, nandun na talaga. Kondisyon silang lahat."
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