SAVOUGE continues to prove that volleyball, and sport altogether, isn’t just a man’s world, after all.
Out to break dated gender stereotypes, the Spin Doctors took the Spikers’ Turf stage by storm and are now onto the Final Four of the ongoing Invitational Conference.
Beyond the team’s recent successes is what head coach Sydney Calderon considers to be their biggest and most important breakthrough: giving LGBTQ+ athletes and coaches a chance to shine.
Savogue’s shot-caller on the court is also the owner of the aesthetic center herself.
Hence, Calderon and the rest of the Spin Doctors are living proof that talent and passion transcend any social stigma that may drag one down from reaching for the stars.
“I wanted to give LGBTQ+ players the chance they deserve, opportunities often denied by traditional teams,” she said in Filipino.
“I want them to realize that playing with purpose is as important as winning. It’s about breaking stereotypes and proving that their gender identity doesn’t define their skill set.”
Savouge’s fight for safe spaces in sport
LGBTQ+ athletes have long been damned by inherently-patriarchal societies that continue to turn a blind eye on them.
But in an on-the-rise sporting stage like the Spikers’ Turf, Savouge’s fight on the taraflex isn’t just for wins and results.
For one, Calderon has fostered a team environment in which their heterosexual males and LGBTQ+ players can coexist in the safest of spaces with a healthy rapport on an off the court.
“Their energy is infectious. They make training lively, and that spirit translates into the games,” said Calderon.
They also carry a greater mission of fighting for inclusivity and opportunity — a resounding statement the Spin Doctors continue to make in front of an ever-expanding Philippine volleyball community every time they show up and step up on the court.
“Many talented players are overlooked because of their gender identity. I want to change that,” said Calderon.
“Be patient and keep playing if volleyball is your passion. Opportunities will come.”
For at the end of the day, sport is, and should be, for all.
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