The Philippines has always been a second home for the Japanese volleyball team. But Ran Takahashi might just be getting another reason to get closer to Filipinos.
Ran Takahashi from Ryujin Nippon has been the Filipino crush ever since his Manila debut at the 2022 Volleyball Nations League.
From blowing up on social media to getting an epic welcome from Filipino fans, Ran and Team Japan are living the dream whenever they visit the country for the VNL.
Even the Phenom herself, Alyssa Valdez, is fangirling. Ran followed her on Instagram, and Ate Ly is feeling all the kilig vibes.
[ALSO READ: Creamline’s Alyssa Valdez can’t get over Japan volleyball star Ran Takahashi following her on Instagram]
Other Filipina volleybelles such as Alas Pilipinas libero Jen Nierva and the NU Lady Bulldogs’ ace Bella Belen made everyone sigh, "Sana all!" with their personal interactions with Takahashi.
Now fans have a new reason to get kilig again.
May nanalo na ba?
He just happened to become the newest brand ambassador for a lighting and other electronics manufacturing company.
Imagine what this can do for local volleyball teams.
Takahashi and Ryujin Nippon are just fresh off the Olympic Games Paris 2024, where they forced world no. 5 Italy to a five-set thriller in the quarterfinals.