In his short four-year college career, Marck Espejo has won everything that a volleyball player can win in the Philippines.
The Marikina-native has been the UAAP MVP in his first three seasons — winning Rookie of the Year simultaneously in his first year.
He led the Ateneo de Manila University to their first UAAP indoor title in program history in Season 77, then to a repeat in Season 78.
In the fledgling Spikers’ Turf, Ateneo are undefeated in their Collegiate Conference thanks to Espejo, the league’s reigning two-time MVP.
If that wasn’t proof enough of the 21-year old’s genius, he also won the Season 78 UAAP Beach Volleyball title in his first go at the sport.
In Season 79, Espejo is still undoubtedly the league’s best player, although, to the stats watchers, he’s having a pretty dull year. Known for his gaudy scoring numbers, the open hitter is averaging less points than in previous years.
The dip in numbers is a product of the improvement of the other Blue Eagles. With three-time UAAP Best Setter Ish Polvorosa distributing the ball, Ateneo’s other hitters get their time to shine making for a balanced offense.
Still, Espejo has continued to improve.
A further look down the stats sheet reveals Espejo’s brilliance on both digging and receiving (currently third at 58 percent), both stats which liberos dominate. It’s easy to pull up an Espejo highlight reel of thunderous hits and point to those as the best part of his game. But it’s Espejo’s all-around brilliance and newfound efficiency with every movement that separates him from the pogo-stick hitters at his position.
“Marck always improves. He’s always very determined, very coachable. What the team needs him to do, he does it and does it very well,” said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro who once called his ward “God’s gift to Ateneo.”
Now in his fourth season, Espejo is looking to take on more of the leadership burden. In past seasons, Ateneo had super seniors in Neil Flores, Ricci Gonzales, and Ysay Marasigan to serve as the vocal leaders. Now, Espejo is no longer the team’s young star but their veteran.
“Every year naman may nagbabago. Pero this year dahil nga isa na ako sa mga pinaka-senior sa team, isa na talaga ako sa mga leaders sa team. Kasi dati parang naghihintay lang ako nang mga ibibigay sa aking mga gagawin. Ngayon, ako na ‘yung kailangan mag-guide talaga and tumulong sa pagpapa-alala,” Espejo told Tiebreaker Times.
“Hindi pa po ako leader noon [past year three years] kasi parang naghihintay lang ako sa mga instructions na ibibigay sa akin nila Ish [Polvorosa], nang ibang seniors, nila coach Oliver. Wala pa ‘yung characteristic nang pagiging leader.”
It isn’t going to be hard for Espejo to net credibility with his teammates. After all, when Ateneo struggle, they still go to Espejo’s unstoppable scoring to pull them through.
“Kasama na po ‘yun sa pagiging leader. Team sport kasi ang volleyball and wala talagang success kung ikaw lang ‘yung gagawa. Siguro, I need my teammates more than they need me pero siyempre lagi pa rin ako dapat ready mag-step up,” declared the leading candidate for Season 79 MVP.
