Volleyball’s biggest names reach out to their fans via public chat

Meet the Volley Friends. Photos by Jilson Tiu/INQUIRER

It’s like eavesdropping on a post-gimmick, coffee-shop chatter—a lively group of young friends right on the next table, dishing out some wisecracks here, a sarcastic comeback there, followed by a big roll of laughter.

It’s an interesting experimental model of the split-screen viewing for sports fan in the digital age, one that popular leagues like the PBA should seriously look into.

Meet the Volley Friends—a set of volleyball stars who take the court as fearless competitors, but turn into a friendly gang off it—and then provide fans a front-row glance of what that friendship looks like.

“What’s good about us is we’re friends inside and outside the court,” said Rachel Anne Daquis. “In the group chat, we’re not thinking that people are reading. There’s no limitation—asaran, barahan (we exchange quips).”

Listed as a public chat group on Viber, the Volley Friends account gathers most of the sport’s best in one digital setting. And there, they talk about anything and everything.

A brainchild of PLDT Home Ultera, the project allows fans to subscribe for free and get a peek at their idols’ musings, and how crazy and normal they are when the game’s spotlight is turned off.

“In Volley Friends, that’s really my personality—jolly lang, patawa lang, babaeng bakla (somenone who’s jolly and jokes around),” shared Abigail Maraño.

“We get to show who we really are with the way we talk, the way we converse,” said Maraño, adding that she gets to banter with former La Salle teammates like Ara Galang and Mika Reyes.

“It’s one way for us to be closer to the fans who read it—that this is how we are, this is how we talk.”

And it’s not all about image branding as convos can get hilarious, crazy and totally random—from traffic to love life to Pinoy movies.

“We don’t edit, those are very raw feelings from the players,” said Angeli Tabaquero. “Natatawa at naaliw yung audience (The audience finds it funny and amusing).”

“It’s a fun environment, na pwede ka humugot (where you can draw emotions).”

“We all enjoy, but at the same time, those reading it also enjoy,” said Shiela Pineda.

But as Alyssa Valdez noted, it’s also a way of giving back to volleyball’s huge fan base.

“I appreciate everything that they do,” said Valdez. “The little things like watching the game, the effort and time they give. They sacrifice so much time for us just to watch the game. Also the social media they post—they really follow you in whatever you do. All the gifts, I really appreciate everything.”

“They have their own gimmicks just to make us smile, laugh, mawala ang kaba namin (get our nervousness out of the way) during the game. We have to thank them. They’re the seventh man of the team.”

Santiago sisters Dindin and Jaja also appreciate their fans from the provinces, who travel hours or even fly in just to watch their games. So Volley Friends is also a way of reaching out to them.

But even bashers can take a glimpse of their personalities, that may surprisingly, be far different from their intense, on-court selves.

“Ang hitsura ko masungit, pero totoo kenkoy (I look crabby, but I’m really playful),” said Dindin Santiago-Manabat. “On court, I have this game face. But in Volley Friends, they see our conversations at nakikita nila ang kulit ko pala (and they see that I also tease a lot).”

Even the men’s players get into the digital action.

“When I started playing, I had more bashers than fans. Ang daming comments na mayabang, puro angas (There were lots of comments that I look cocky, boastful),” said Peter Torres. “But eventually, people started to appreciate how I play.”

“Malaking bagay yung Volley Friends (Volley Friends is a big help),” Torres said of the three-month old chat group.

“Doon nakikita ng mga tao yung tunay kung ugali— makulit, maharot, hindi tulad inside the court na seryoso, bihira magsalita (It’s where people see who I am—playful, boisterous; not like inside the court where I get serious and rarely talk).”

Johnvic De Guzman said he found another platform to promote the still growing men’s volleyball game.

“It’s exposure not only for the women, but also for the men’s tournament,” noted De Guzman. “We’re like family, and fans recognize you as one of the Volley Friends.”

And just like on court, these superstars turned super friends will keep firing away.

As Jaja Santiago said: “Outside the court, they’ll see we’re all friends.”

“It’s exciting to talk with other Volley Friends,” added Valdez. “People see how our normal lives go.”

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