Marck Espejo

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Paguirigan and the surname or paternal family name is Espejo.

Marck Jesus Paguirigan Espejo (born March 1, 1997) is a Filipino volleyball athlete currently playing for Incheon Korean Air Jumbos, his first stint in V-League (South Korea). He is a member of the Philippines men's national volleyball team and played collegiate volleyball with Ateneo de Manila University.^[1][2][3]

Marck Espejo
Personal information
Full name	Marck Jesus Paguirigan Espejo
Nationality	Filipino
Born	(1997-03-01) March 1, 1997 (age 26)
Hometown	Marikina, Philippines
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Spike	340 cm (134 in)
Block	335 cm (132 in)
College / University	Ateneo de Manila University
Volleyball information
Position	Outside hitter
Current club	Incheon Korean Air Jumbos
Career
Years Teams 2015 Cagayan Valley 2018–2019, 2022, 2023 Cignal 2018–2019 Weisse Adler 2019–2020 Visakha 2020–2021 Bani Jamra 2021–2022 FC Tokyo 2023 Incheon Korean Air Jumbos
National team
2015–present Philippines
Honours Men's volleyball Representing  Philippines Southeast Asian Games 2019 Manila Team ASEAN University Games 2016 Singapore Team

Career

Youth

Espejo studied at the Santa Elena High School - Marikina.^[4] While playing for his secondary school, Espejo bagged the Best Attacker awards in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa,^[5] 2011 National Milo Little Olympics Championship,^{[citation needed]} 2012 and 2013 NCR Volleyball Regional Meet.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[6] Espejo won the 2014 GUIDON-Moro Lorenzo Sportsman of The Year award.^[7]

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.^[8]

In UAAP Season 76 where Ateneo finished as runner-ups,^[9] Espejo was hailed as the Rookie of the Year and Season's MVP^[10] while in UAAP Season 77 as Best Attacker and Season's MVP.^[11] In UAAP Season 78, he received three awards: Best Attacker, Best Server, and Season's MVP.^[12] Espejo also bagged the UAAP Season 79 Best Scorer, Best Attacker, and Season's MVP.^[13] He ended his UAAP stint with Ateneo in 2018 with a loss to the National University in the final of UAAP Season 80.^[9] 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.^[14]

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.^[15][16][17] He was also awarded as the 1st Best Outside Spiker in the Spikers' Turf 1st Season Open Conference.^[18]

Club career

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.^[9]

Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler

In May 2018, Espejo received an offer to play for a team in Japan.^[9] 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.^[19]

Visakha

In December 2019, Espejo joined Visakha of the Volleyball Thailand League.^[20] He debuted for the club in January 2020.^[21]

Bani Jamra

Espejo moved to Bahrain in November 2020 to play for Bani Jamra of the Isa bin Rashid Volleyball League.^[22] 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.^[23]

FC Tokyo

Espejo returned to Japan, after he was signed in to play for FC Tokyo for the 2021–21 season of V.League.^[24]

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 V-League (South Korea). ^[25]

International

In 2015, he was chosen member of the Philippine national team.^[26]

Clubs

•   Cagayan Valley Rising Suns (2015)
•   Cignal HD Spikers (2018–2019, 2022, 2023)
•   Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler (2018–2019)
•   Visakha (2019–2020)
•   Bani Jamra (2020–2021)
•   FC Tokyo (2021–2022)
•   Incheon Korean Air Jumbos (2023)

Awards

Individuals

• 2012 Palarong Pambansa "Best attacker"
• UAAP Season 76 "Rookie of the Year"
• UAAP Season 76 "Season's Most Valuable Player"
• UAAP Season 77 "Best attacker"
• UAAP Season 77 "Season's Most Valuable Player"
• 2015 Spikers' Turf 1st Season Open Conference "1st Best Outside Spiker"
• 2015 Spikers' Turf 1st Season Open Conference "Conference Most Valuable Player"
• 2015 Spikers' Turf 1st Season Collegiate Conference "Conference Most Valuable Player"
• 2015 Spikers' Turf 1st Season Collegiate Conference "Finals Most Valuable Player"
• 2015 Spikers' Turf 1st Season Collegiate Conference "2nd Best Outside Spiker"
• UAAP Season 78 "Best attacker"
• UAAP Season 78 "Best server"
• UAAP Season 78 "Season's Most Valuable Player"
• 2016 Spikers' Turf 2nd Season Collegiate Conference "Conference Most Valuable Player"
• 2016 Spikers' Turf 2nd Season Collegiate Conference "1st Best Outside Spiker"
• UAAP Season 79 "Best attacker"
• UAAP Season 79 "Best scorer"
• UAAP Season 79 "Season's Most Valuable Player"
• 2017 Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Collegiate Conference "Finals Most Valuable Player"
• 2017 Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Collegiate Conference "Conference Most Valuable Player"
• 2017 Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Collegiate Conference "1st Best Outside Spiker"
• UAAP Season 80 "Best scorer"
• UAAP Season 80 "Best attacker"
• UAAP Season 80 "Best server"
• UAAP Season 80 "Season's Most Valuable Player"
• 2018 Premier Volleyball League 2nd Season Reinforced Conference "Conference Most Valuable Player"
• 2018 Premier Volleyball League 2nd Season Reinforced Conference "1st Best Outside Spiker"
• 2019 Thailand Open Sealect Tuna Championships "2nd Best Outside Spiker"
• 2019 Spikers' Turf Reinforced Conference "Finals Most Valuable Player"
• 2019 Spikers' Turf Reinforced Conference "2nd Best Outside Spiker"
• 2019 Spikers' Turf Open Conference "Finals Most Valuable Player"
• 2019 Spikers' Turf Open Conference "2nd Best Outside Spiker"
• 2022 Spikers' Turf Open Conference "1st Best Outside Spiker"
• 2023 Spikers' Turf Open Conference "Finals Most Valuable Player"

Special Recognitions

• 2014 GUIDON-Moro Lorenzo Sportsman of The Year
• 2018 PSA Annual Awards Mr. Volleyball^[27]
• 2019 PSA Annual Awards Mr. Volleyball^[28]

Club

• 2015 Cagayan Friendship Games –   Bronze medal, with Cagayan Valley Rising Suns
• 2015 Spikers' Turf 1st Season Open Conference –   Silver medal, with Cagayan Valley Rising Suns
• 2018 Premier Volleyball League 2nd Season Reinforced Conference –   Silver medal, with Cignal HD Spikers
• 2019 Spikers' Turf 4th Season Reinforced Conference –   Champions, with Cignal HD Spikers
• 2019 Spikers' Turf 4th Season Open Conference –   Champions, with Cignal HD Spikers
• 2022 Spikers' Turf 5th Season Open Conference –   Silver Medal, with Cignal HD Spikers
• 2023 Spikers' Turf 6th Season Open Conference –   Champions, with Cignal HD Spikers

National

• 2019 Thailand Open Sealect Tuna Championships –   Bronze medal
• 2019 30th Southeast Asian Games –   Silver medal

References

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

External links

• Marck Espejo on Instagram