SPORTS
Advocates Philippines
Marck Espejo Drafted Third by Incheon Korean Air Jumbos
Photo credit: Spikers' Turf
Marck Espejo, one of the top male volleyball players in the Philippines, has been drafted as the third overall pick in the 2023 KOVO Asian Quota Draft by the Incheon Korean Air Jumbos. This historic draft opened up for Asian quota imports for the first time in the league's history.
Espejo's selection makes him the second Filipino to play in the Korean Volleyball League (KVL), following MJ Phillips, who was drafted fifth by Gwangju last week. Espejo, a 6-foot-3 outside spiker, has had stints abroad before, playing in Japan twice for Oita Miyoshi and FC Tokyo, in Thailand for Visakha, and in Bahrain for Bani Jamra.
Espejo's recent championship win with Cignal in the Philippines' 2023 Spikers' Turf Open Conference championship before being drafted by the Jumbos highlights his impressive skills. His selection by the three-time defending champions is seen as a significant boost to their chances of winning a fourth consecutive title.
The first pick went to Mongolia's Eddie, who was selected by Daejeon Samsung, while the second pick went to Japanese libero Ryohei Iga, who was picked by Suwon KEPCO. The fourth pick was middle blocker Batsükh Bayarsaikhan of Mongolia, who was selected by Ansan OK Financial Group. Completing the top five picks, Chinese Taipei's Pei-Chang Tsai was selected by Cheonan Hyundai Capital.
In addition to Espejo and Phillips, other Filipinos who participated in the three-day tryout were Jau Umandal, JP Bugaoan, and Manuel Sumangguid III. Although they were not selected in the draft, their participation reflects the growing interest in Philippine volleyball and the potential for more Filipino players to play in the KVL in the future.
Espejo's selection means that there will now be a Filipino player in both the men's and women's divisions of the KVL, further exposing the country's volleyball talent to the rest of the region.
Espejo's selection makes him the second Filipino to play in the Korean Volleyball League (KVL), following MJ Phillips, who was drafted fifth by Gwangju last week. Espejo, a 6-foot-3 outside spiker, has had stints abroad before, playing in Japan twice for Oita Miyoshi and FC Tokyo, in Thailand for Visakha, and in Bahrain for Bani Jamra.
Espejo's recent championship win with Cignal in the Philippines' 2023 Spikers' Turf Open Conference championship before being drafted by the Jumbos highlights his impressive skills. His selection by the three-time defending champions is seen as a significant boost to their chances of winning a fourth consecutive title.
The first pick went to Mongolia's Eddie, who was selected by Daejeon Samsung, while the second pick went to Japanese libero Ryohei Iga, who was picked by Suwon KEPCO. The fourth pick was middle blocker Batsükh Bayarsaikhan of Mongolia, who was selected by Ansan OK Financial Group. Completing the top five picks, Chinese Taipei's Pei-Chang Tsai was selected by Cheonan Hyundai Capital.
In addition to Espejo and Phillips, other Filipinos who participated in the three-day tryout were Jau Umandal, JP Bugaoan, and Manuel Sumangguid III. Although they were not selected in the draft, their participation reflects the growing interest in Philippine volleyball and the potential for more Filipino players to play in the KVL in the future.
Espejo's selection means that there will now be a Filipino player in both the men's and women's divisions of the KVL, further exposing the country's volleyball talent to the rest of the region.
Apr 28, 2023
