Marck Espejo Explained

Marck Espejo
Fullname:Marck Jesus Paguirigan Espejo
Birth Date:1 March 1997
Nationality:Filipino
Hometown:Marikina, Philippines
Height:1.91 m
Weight:180 lbs
Spike:340 cm
Block:335 cm
Position:Outside hitter
College:Ateneo de Manila University
Years1:2015
Team1:Cagayan Valley
Years2:2018–2019,
2022, 2023
Team2:Cignal
Years3:2018–2019
Team3:Weisse Adler
Years4:2019–2020
Team4:Visakha
Years5:2020–2021
Team5:Bani Jamra
Years6:2021–2022
Team6:FC Tokyo
Years7:2023–2024
Team7:Incheon Korean Air Jumbos
Years8:2024
Team8:Criss Cross King Crunchers
Years9:2024–2025
Nationalyears1:2015–present
Nationalteam1:Philippines
Medaltemplates-Expand:yes

Marck Jesus Paguirigan Espejo (born March 1, 1997) is a Filipino volleyball athlete who will play for of the V.League. He is also member of the Philippines men's national volleyball team and played collegiate volleyball with Ateneo de Manila University.[1] [2]

Career

Youth

Espejo studied at the Santa Elena High School - Marikina.[3] While playing for his secondary school, Espejo bagged the Best Attacker awards in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa,[4] 2011 National Milo Little Olympics Championship, 2012 and 2013 NCR Volleyball Regional Meet.

Collegiate

As a multi-awarded high school volleyball player, he was recruited by Ateneo De Manila University to play for its men's varsity volleyball team.[5] Espejo won the 2014 GUIDON-Moro Lorenzo Sportsman of The Year award.[6]

UAAP

In the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Volleyball Championship, Espejo led Ateneo's team to win three consecutive championships from UAAP Season 77 to UAAP Season 79.[7]

In UAAP Season 76 where Ateneo finished as runner-ups,[8] Espejo was hailed as the Rookie of the Year and Season's MVP[9] while in UAAP Season 77 as Best Attacker and Season's MVP.[10] In UAAP Season 78, he received three awards: Best Attacker, Best Server, and Season's MVP.[11] Espejo also bagged the UAAP Season 79 Best Scorer, Best Attacker, and Season's MVP.[12] He ended his UAAP stint with Ateneo in 2018 with a loss to the National University in the final of UAAP Season 80.[8] And Espejo makes a historic 55-point game on UAAP Season 80 Semifinals against FEU.

Spikers' Turf and PVL

He also led Ateneo in bagging the championship title in Spikers' Turf 1st Season Collegiate Conference, Spikers' Turf 2nd Season Collegiate Conference, and Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Collegiate Conference in addition to the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference championship.[13]

In the Spikers' Turf 1st Season Collegiate Conference 2nd Best Outside Spiker, Conference and Finals MVP, Spikers' Turf 2nd Season Collegiate Conference 1st Best Outside Spiker and Conference MVP, and 2017 Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Collegiate Conference 1st Best Outside Spiker, Conference and Finals MVP.[14] [15] [16] He was also awarded as the 1st Best Outside Spiker in the Spikers' Turf 1st Season Open Conference.[17]

Club career

Early years: Philippines

Espejo helped the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns in snatching the bronze medal in the Cagayan Friendship Games and silver medal in the Spikers' Turf 1st Season Open Conference in 2015.

Following the end of his UAAP stint with Ateneo, Espejo was set to play for Cignal HD Spikers in the men's division of the 2018 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.[8]

Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler

In May 2018, Espejo received an offer to play for a team in Japan.[8] On May 27, it was announced that he has officially signed to play for the Japanese club, Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler. He was recommended by Godfrey Owese Okumu, the coach of the University of the Philippines' women's team.[18]

Visakha

In December 2019, Espejo joined Visakha of the Volleyball Thailand League.[19] He debuted for the club in January 2020.[20]

Bani Jamra

Espejo moved to Bahrain in November 2020 to play for Bani Jamra of the Isa bin Rashid Volleyball League.[21] He moved back to the Philippines after his contract with Bani Jamra ended on January 30, 2021. He helped his team finish sixth in a league of six teams in the 2020–21 season.[22]

FC Tokyo

Espejo returned to Japan, after he was signed in to play for FC Tokyo for the 2021–21 season of V.League.[23]

Incheon Korean Air Jumbos

In April 27, Espejo joined to the 2023 KOVO Men's Asian Quota Draft held in Jeju Island, South Korea. Espejo got picked and assigned to play for Incheon Korean Air Jumbos in 2023-24 season of the Korean V-League.[24]

Return to the Philippines

Espejo would return to the Philippines to play for the Criss Cross King Crunchers in the 2024 Spikers' Turf Open Conference.[25]

Kubota Spears Osaka

Espejo will return to Japan and signed to play for for the 2024–2025 season of the rebranded V.League.[26]

International

In 2015, he was chosen member of the Philippine national team.[27]

Clubs

Awards

Individuals

Special Recognitions

Club

National

Notes and References

  1. News: Collegiate volleyball's finest; Malditas make mark. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 1 Jan 2018. 7 January 2018.
  2. News: Marck Espejo-led PH volleyball team faces daunting task against Thais in SEA Games. Terrado. Reuben. Spin PH. 21 April 2015. 7 January 2018.
  3. News: There's more finesse and maturity in inspired Espejo's game now. ABS-CBN Sports. 7 September 2016. 14 January 2018.
  4. News: Volleyball finals update: NCR wins secondary boys and girls. Rappler. 12 May 2012. 14 January 2018.
  5. News: UAAP: Ateneo's Marck Espejo named men's volleyball MVP and Rookie of the Year . . GMA News. 5 March 2014. 7 January 2018.
  6. News: Ambrosio Padilla and GUIDON-Moro Lorenzo Awardees. Go. Beatrice T.. Aycardo. Lorenzo C.. The GUIDON. 11 May 2014. 9 January 2018.
  7. News: UAAP: Ateneo Blue Eagles complete 3-peat of men's volleyball title. Rappler. 6 May 2017. 7 January 2018.
  8. News: Naredo. Camille. UAAP volleyball: What's next for Ateneo's Marck Espejo?. 2 May 2018. ABS-CBN News. 2 May 2018.
  9. News: UAAP: Ateneo's Marck Espejo named men's volleyball MVP and Rookie of the Year. GMA News. 5 March 2014. 7 January 2018.
  10. News: Ateneo's Marck Espejo is UAAP 77 volleyball MVP. Olivares. Rick. The Philippine Star. 7 March 2015. 7 January 2018.
  11. News: Season 78 awards: Marck Espejo completes MVP hattrick. Fox Asia. 3 May 2016. 7 January 2018.
  12. News: Espejo snatches fourth straight MVP plum. ABS-CBN Sports. 3 May 2017. 7 January 2018.
  13. News: Blue Eagles rule PVL Collegiate Conference. Escarlote. Mark. ABS CBN. 14 October 2017. 9 January 2018.
  14. News: Ateneo's Espejo named Spikers' Turf MVP. Lozada. Bong. Inquirer.net. 20 September 2015. 7 January 2018.
  15. News: Ateneo ace Marck Espejo bags MVP, first best outside spiker awards in Spikers Turf. Spin PH. 12 September 2016. 7 January 2018.
  16. News: Espejo, Intal lead Cagayan Valley in Spikers' Turf tourney. ABS-CBN Sports. 24 March 2015. 7 January 2018.
  17. News: Ateneo star Marck Espejo claims third MVP award in commercial leagues. Lozada. Mei. Spin PH. 14 Oct 2017. 7 January 2018.
  18. News: Escarlote. Mark. May 27, 2018. UP coach was key in Espejo's journey to Japan. ABS-CBN Sports. May 27, 2018.
  19. News: Lozada . Bong . After SEA Games stint, Marck Espejo set to join Thai club Visakha . November 6, 2020 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . December 11, 2019.
  20. News: Agcaoili . Lance . Marck Espejo man of the match in Thailand debut as Visakha VC beats Prince Finance . November 6, 2020 . Sports Interactive Network Philippines . January 20, 2020 . en.
  21. News: Agcaoili . Lance . Spiker Marck Espejo breaks new ground as import in Bahrain league . November 6, 2020 . Sports Interactive Network Philippines . November 6, 2020 . en.
  22. News: Agcaoli . Lance . Marck Espejo honored by Bani Jamra team after stint in Bahrain volleyball league . 1 February 2021 . Sports Interactive Network Philippines . 1 February 2021 . en.
  23. News: Lozada . Bong . Marck Espejo returns to Japan V.League, signs with FC Tokyo . 24 June 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . 24 June 2021 . en.
  24. News: Marck Espejo-to suit up for Incheon in Korean V-League. ABS-CBN News. 27 April 2023. 27 April 2023.
  25. News: Bautista . Ohmer . Spikers’ Turf: Marck Espejo thrilled to be back in the Philippines with new team Criss Cross . 15 April 2024 . One Sport . 15 April 2024 . en.
  26. Web site: Garcia . John Mark . Marck Espejo signs with Japan V.League club Kubota Spears Osaka . . August 9, 2024 . August 9, 2024.
  27. News: Marck Espejo-led PH volleyball team faces daunting task against Thais in SEA Games. Terrado. Reuben. Spin PH. 21 April 2015. 7 January 2018.
  28. News: SMB's gentle giants receive PSA award. PhilStar Global. February 22, 2018. February 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180222165048/http://old.philstar.com/sports/2018/02/22/1790255/smbs-gentle-giant-receive-psa-award. February 22, 2018. dead.
  29. News: Fajardo, Etheridge, Santiago, Espejo to be honored in 2019 PSA Awards. Tiebreaker Times. February 6, 2019. February 6, 2019.