Nicole Tiamzon's Spike and Serve has grown from a small initiative into a nationwide advocacy, empowering underserved communities through volleyball.
Nicole Tiamzon has always been more than just a volleyball player.
While she has made her mark on the court, playing for the UP Fighting Maroons and later the Petro Gazz Angels, her true passion lies in making volleyball accessible to underserved communities.
Through Spike and Serve, the nonprofit organization she founded in 2017, Tiamzon has turned her love for the sport into a vehicle for change.
Spike and Serve’s beginning
Fresh out of college, Tiamzon wanted to give back to her hometown in Rizal.
What started as a simple initiative to teach kids volleyball soon expanded into something much bigger.
Partnerships with local government units, private sectors, and public schools helped Spike and Serve grow, allowing it to bring structured volleyball programs to communities with little to no access to proper training.
“Gusto lang namin ni Spike and Serve magkaroon ng volleyball program 'yung mga underserved communities natin dito sa Philippines. Kasi nagkaroon ako ng chance eh, so parang ang goal namin ay mabigyan din ng chance 'yung iba,” Tiamzon told One Sports.
Early challenges
Starting Spike and Serve was not easy.
Without the certainty of support, Tiamzon initially turned to her former coaches and mentors for guidance. Their encouragement gave her the confidence to push forward despite the challenges.
“It's hard to start kasi hindi mo alam kung merong maniniwala sa 'yo or wala. Parang nung time na 'yun, nag-seek ako ng help dun sa former coaches ko, sa other mentors ko na okay ba ito? Okay ba itong gagawin ko?” Tiamzon shared.
Through persistence and the backing of the volleyball community, Spike and Serve has been able to run training programs and outreach initiatives, proving that sports can be a powerful tool for development.
“Binigyan nila ako ng kumpiyansa na sige, marami tayong matutulungan. Dun ako nag-start na kumbaga parang 'yung motivation ko rin 'yung mga bata eh na malaking bagay if matulungan natin sila. Laking pasalamat ko sa lahat ng mga sumuporta rin sa Spike & Serve since 2017,” she added.
Looking ahead
One of the organization’s biggest projects is Ikot Pinas, a program that brings volleyball training to different provinces.
Last year, Spike and Serve visited Ifugao, working with young athletes and local coaches to help develop grassroots programs. In 2025, the goal is to expand the initiative to Mindanao.
“Last year, nasa Ifugao kami, this year ang target ni Spike and Serve sa Mindanao naman. So, let's see kung ano 'yung mangyayari after this conference and then we're hopeful na makapunta si Spike and Serve sa Mindanao,” said Tiamzon.
Balancing volleyball and advocacy
As a professional athlete, Tiamzon admits that juggling her career with her advocacy work is no easy feat.
Thankfully, she has found support from like-minded individuals, including fellow PVL player Shannen Palec of the Galeries Tower Highrisers, who shares her vision of athletes giving back.
“For me, it's hard. It's totally hard, especially juggling na professional athlete ka tapos trabaho ka sa Spike and Serve. Pero ako, thankful ako sa mga kasamahan ko,” Tiamzon admitted. “We’re trying to advocate this one na 'yung athletes din sana, makapag-give back din. Balance lang din, know your priorities.”
With Philippine volleyball continuing to grow each day, a program like Tiamzon’s would go a long way to developing future superstars, who can one day represent the country on the international stage.