Long beloved but often treated as just a mere secondary sport, women’s volleyball has surged into the spotlight.

At the forefront of this revolution are the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), whose athletes are basking in the newfound glory of the sport.

PVL president Ricky Palou admitted that the popularity of the sport is beyond their wildest dreams.

“We always knew volleyball had a special place in the hearts of Filipinos, but what’s happening now is beyond our wildest dreams,” Palou said.

“Our games are drawing record crowds and viewership numbers we could only fantasize about a few years ago.”

No discussion of this ascent would be complete without acknowledging the historic games that have shaped Philippine volleyball.

The pinnacle of spectator attendance was reached during the PVL All-Filipino Conference finals, where the Smart Araneta Coliseum hosted a staggering 24,459 fans for Creamline’s title-clinching Game 2 victory over Choco Mucho on 16 December.

The figures shattered the previous Philippine volleyball attendance record set during the UAAP finals between Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University in 2016, with 22,848 spectators at the same venue.

Simultaneously, the PVL has forged its own indelible memories.

During the championship series, the clash between Creamline and Choco Mucho drew a crowd of 23,162 passionate fans, just over 1,000 spectators short of the record, affirming the league’s growing popularity and drawing power.

Players, too, are feeling the shift.

Alyssa Valdez, a household name and the face of Philippine volleyball, expressed her delight.

“The love and support we get from the fans are overwhelming. We’ve worked so hard to grow the sport, and to see it flourish like this is a dream come true,” said Valdez, who is considered as the face of Philippine volleyball.

This surge in women’s volleyball’s popularity starkly contrasts the dwindling fortunes of basketball, particularly the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Once the uncontested king of Filipino sports, the PBA is grappling with declining attendance and viewership. Critics argue that the league has struggled to innovate and adapt to changing tastes, while volleyball has embraced social media and digital platforms, drawing in younger, tech-savvy fans.

At the grassroots level, volleyball’s ascendancy is evident in schools and communities across the archipelago. More young girls are picking up the sport, inspired by their idols and the promise of a professional career in a thriving league.