Volleyball sweethearts Shola Alvarez and Tin Tiamzon as they find a way to celebrate Valentine's Day together... even when thirteen hours apart.
525,600 minutes. 525,000 moments so dear. And One Sports is using this season of love to celebrate all kinds beautiful relationships with the mini-series Match Point. Where better to start than The Heart of Volleyball?
Long-distance relationships are difficult.
Almost any couple in that situation would wholeheartedly agree.
The same is the case for Capital1's Shola Alvarez and former volleyball player Tin Tiamzon.
Alvarez is currently playing with the Solar Spikers in Manila, while Tiamzon is based in Vancouver, Canada.
That’s a 13-hour time difference.
When Shola is about to sleep, Tin is just about to start her day. And yet somehow, the two continue to find a way to keep the relationship burning.
The secret? Shola says it’s all about commitment.
“To be honest, mahirap siya, especially 'yung time kasi iba 'yung time sa Canada and Philippines, so talagang 'yung commitment namin,” Alvarez told One Sports.
“Siguro 'yun 'yung number one, 'yung commitment namin sa isa't isa na kahit magka-literal na umaga dun, gabi dito, so kahit LDR kami ngayon, mine-mentain namin 'yung communication and 'yung trust siyempre hindi siya mawawala,” she added.
The two lovebirds have been together since their time with the now-defunct F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
Tin and Shola, or what some fans call TinOla, even got engaged last August 2023.
Despite their time away from each other, Alvarez and Tiamzon remain stronger than ever—something that’s built by their love and trust for one another.
“I just love her,” Alvarez giggled. “To be honest, commitment talaga eh. Wala akong ibang masagot sa ngayon as in 'yun 'yung pakiramdam ko kasi and same as her, committed talaga kami sa isa't isa, so feeling ko kaya napapadali namin 'yung LDR kasi parehas kaming committed sa isa't isa.”
After a year and three months of not seeing each other in person, the two finally got to spend quality time during the Christmas break.
Alvarez headed to Canada, where she spent the extended break with Tiamzon as they explored the country during the winter.
“Actually, sobrang worth it lahat nun kasi before kami magkita nung Christmas,” Alvarez detailed. “And then nung nagkita kami every minute, every second, lahat, talagang sinulit namin and chinerish namin.”
“Lahat ng bagay na puwede naming magawa na magkasama, talagang ginawa namin.”
Fast forward to Valentine’s Day on Friday, it’ll be the usual LDR setup for Alvarez and Tiamzon.
“Siyempre, virtual date. As usual, virtual date. 'Yun lang naman 'yung ginagawa namin kapag may mga special occasions na Valentine's na dapat magkasama kami,” said Alvarez.
Still, the two will find a way to make the date a little bit more special.
“And also, nagpapadala kami ng flowers sa isa't isa, so 'yun na 'yung pinaka-effort na nagagawa namin and also the time. Pinag-uusapan namin kung kelan siya available and kelan ako available para magtugma 'yung schedule namin and para makapag-date kami,” she added.
If there’s anything to take away from Shola and Tin’s relationship, it’s that LDR can indeed work if both partners put the time and effort to make it happen.