Player Profile Series: The Rise of Volleyball Star Marck Espejo

Marck Espejo’s journey from a young Marikina native to one of the Philippines’ most decorated volleyball icons is nothing short of inspiring. His name now echoes across Asian courts as a symbol of excellence and perseverance.

Born on March 1, 1997, Espejo discovered his love for volleyball at a young age. His dream began taking shape during his time at Santa Elena High School. Espejo quickly rose through the ranks, securing Best Attacker awards at prestigious tournaments like the 2012 Palarong Pambasa, 2011 Milo Little Olympics, and the 2012 and NCR Volleyball Regional Meet. 

His exceptional performance quickly put him on the national radar. 

Ateneo de Manila University saw the potential in the young spiker and brought him in to join the Blue Eagles’ men’s volleyball team. 

In his UAAP debut during Season 76, Espejo made an immediate impact by claiming both the Rookie of the Year and the Season MVP honors—an extraordinary achievement for a first-year player.

That was only the beginning.

Espejo spearheaded Ateneo’s championship dynasty from Season 77 to 79, claiming three straight UAAP titles and dominating the individual awards list with multiple Best Attacker, Best Server, Best Scorer, and MVP honors. 

He closed out his collegiate career with a historic 55-point explosion against FEU in the Season 80 semifinals, cementing his legacy with one of the most remarkable performances in UAAP history.

Espejo’s brilliance extended far beyond the UAAP. He also led Ateneo to multiple titles in the Spikers’ Turf and Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conferences, earning consistent recognition with awards such as Conference MVP, Finals MVP, and Best Outside Spiker in the 2015 and 2016 Spikers’ Turf Collegiate editions, as well as the 2017 PVL Collegiate Conference.

In 2015, he also suited up for the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns, contributing to the team’s bronze medal finish in the Cagayan Friendship Games and a silver medal run in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.

Following his graduation from Ateneo, Espejo made the leap to professional volleyball. He joined the Cignal HD Spikers in 2018 but soon after received an offer that would take his career international.

In May 2018, he signed with Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler in Japan’s V.League—becoming one of the first Filipinos to play professionally in Japan. His move was a groundbreaking step for local players aspiring to compete globally.

The journey didn’t stop there.

In 2019, Espejo signed with Visakha Volleyball Club in Thailand. The following year, he moved to Bani Jamra in Bahrain and competed in the Isa bin Rashid Volleyball League.

Despite challenges abroad, Espejo remained relentless in pushing boundaries. He returned to Japan to play for FC Tokyo in the 2021–22 V.League season, proving he could hold his own in the highly competitive Japanese circuit.

In April 2023, Espejo made history again. He was drafted during the KOVO Men’s Asian Quota Draft in Jeju Island, South Korea. He joined the powerhouse team Incheon Korean Air Jumbos for the 2023–24 season—a testament to his ever-rising stock as an elite athlete in Asia.

After his stint in Korea, Espejo returned to the Philippines to play for the Criss Cross King Crunchers in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference. But his stay was brief—soon after, he signed with Kubota Spears Osaka, marking his return to Japan for the 2024–25 season in the newly rebranded V.League.

Beyond club success, Espejo has been a proud member of the Philippine men’s national volleyball team since 2015. He helped secure a silver medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, and a bronze at the 2019 Thailand Open Sealect Tuna Championships, continuing to raise the bar for men’s volleyball in the country.

From a high school standout in Marikina to a trailblazer in Asian volleyball, Marck Espejo’s story is one of grit, excellence, and firsts. His journey isn’t just a timeline of awards and transfers—it’s a legacy that inspires the next generation of Filipino athletes to dream bigger, train harder, and soar higher.