Pandemic won't stop this outfit to spike

THE COVID-19 pandemic may have greatly affected Nicole Tiamzon's Spike and Serve Philippines' activities in the past few months.

But despite the lockdown, the organization will keep on pushing to engage in sports and give aspiring volleyball players to become physically active.

"We encourage you guys na sana po nage-exercise and nagwo-workout po tayo. Nagpapawis po tayo kahit isang beses isang araw at tayo po lahat ay kumakain ng masusustansiyang pagkain, lalo na ang prutas at gulay," said Tiamzon.

Currently under the Perlas Spikers team on Premier Volleyball League, Tiamzon's advocacy has gone a long way.

Founded in 2017, Spike and Serve Philippines is a non-profit community-based sports development organization that trains children from communities on how to play volleyball.

The organization also provided an avenue for aspiring volleyball players to get mentoring from prominent coaches. Through the sports development program, the children they train will get opportunities for education and career in the future.

Due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine last March, Spike and Serve Philippines had canceled all of its trainings to lessen the risk of having COVID-19, reminding its participants to follow hand washing and social distancing protocols.

The organization is continuing to look ways to help and provide what it can go through the platforms that are available during this pandemic.

"Dahil sa sitwasyon po natin ngayon, ang mga programa natin sa mga communities natin ay hindi po natin alam kung kailan tayo makakabalik," said Tiamzon, who is also former University of the Philippines standout.

"Kahit anong mangyari, kung may maitutulong ang organization po namin, lalo na using our online platforms, our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, we can keep in touch," she added.     

Spike and Serve Philippines has recently invited national team libero Kath Arado and her University of the East teammate Judith Abil, and Perlas Spiker Ana Gopico in sharing their stories online to its young athletes.

The organization has also started to raise funds to provide food and hygiene packs to the communities of its young athletes in Taytay and Quezon City, student coaches, and staff of Belarmino Sports Compound, which served as 

Spike and Serve Philippines' venue last year.  The first wave of food and hygiene packs have been distributed yesterday.

Donations can be course through Tiamzon's  BPI account uumber: 2819058817, Yanie Mirabueno's BDO account number: 003990360633, Paypal at yzmirabueno@gmail.com and GCash - 09166720879.

"Mag-ingat palagi, stay at home and don't forget to pray, God bless," said Tiamzon.