For Solar Spikers, fans are a capital asset
Almost every foreign squad or player that has flown here has sung praises for the dedication and support of volleyball fans in the Philippines.
Fans attend matches, buy merchandise and cheer for their favorite teams—and in the ongoing Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced League, where local women’s volleyball teams battle it out on the court, that hasn’t changed.
“The fans are the ones who boost the morale of the players,” Capital1 team manager Hollie Reyes told the Inquirer recently.
That’s why for the young Solar Spikers, establishing a solid fanbase is important to the team’s success. Capital1 was just recently founded this year and joined its first All-Filipino Conference last February, placing 11th by the end of the tournament.
“As a new team, we hope to create a steady fanbase in the coming years because the plan is for a longer stay here in the PVL,” Reyes said.
Reyes said that with the addition of De La Salle University star player Leila Cruz and Ateneo De Manila University libero Roma Doromal, the team’s fanbase got a boost. And to keep that growth in popularity going, the team has launched an initiative focused on social media.
“Everything is on social media,” Reyes said. “It is the biggest platform that we could use in promoting the team.”
The Solar Spikers made noise on the internet after their huge win over Petro Gazz Angels recently, where they swept the defending champions, 26-24, 25-20, 25-18.
“I think our fanbase grew [overnight] because of that win. A lot of people were surprised and thought that we could be a dark horse in this competition,” Reyes said.
Reyes said they are cultivating the Solar Spikers’ fandom through a project on their Facebook page which provides fans with the opportunity to get free tickets to the team’s games.
A small but enthusiastic crowd of people waving around yellow and blue balloons while chanting the team’s name inside the arena during the Solar Spikers’ games is proof of the efforts of the team.
“It is heartwarming when fans wait for the team outside, shout Capital1’s name or cheer for us every match so it gives us more will to perform better for the games,” Reyes said.
As the popularity of volleyball grows, local teams value having a solid fandom. After all, their cheers and dominating presence could define the difference whether a team wins or loses. INQ
