Amanda Maria Villanueva (born 1991 or 1992[2]) is a Filipino volleyball athlete. She played for the Adamson Lady Falcons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines before turning pro in the Premier Volleyball League and Philippine Superliga. She is also a model and marketing executive.

Amanda Villanueva
Personal information
NationalityFilipino
Born1991 or 1992 (age 32–33)
San Diego, California, U.S.[1]
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
College / UniversityDe La Salle University
Adamson University
Volleyball information
PositionOpposite Hitter
Career
YearsTeams
2015PLDT
2017–2018Perlas Spikers
2019Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors

Career

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An opposite hitter, Villanueva played high school volleyball at St. James Academy in Malabon and represented the National Capital Region at Palarong Pambansa.[3] In college, she initially played for the DLSU Lady Spikers and later played four years for the Adamson Lady Falcons.[4][5] She had two UAAP Final Four appearances in indoor volleyball and won a beach volley crown for Adamson University while teaming up with Bang Pineda and Jema Galanza in 2013.[6][7] She briefly played for the PLDT Home Ultera Ultra Fast Hitters in the Shakey's V-League in 2015.[2] They would later meet at the pro ranks in separate teams.[8]

Villanueva joined the Perlas Spikers of the Premier Volleyball League in 2017.[2] She helped the team win double bronze in 2018.[9] She moved to the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors of the Philippine Super Liga in 2019.[2]

She ended her competitive volleyball career in 2020, at age 28.[2][10]

Personal life

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Villanueva became engaged to her boyfriend Rico Robles during their vacation in Taipei, Taiwan in 2020 after two years of being in a romantic relationship.[11][12] Villanueva also engages in business and modeling careers.[13][14][15][16]

References

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  1. ^ "Amanda Villanueva, may lalim ang hugot" [Amanda Villanueva, has a deep insight]. People's Balita (in Filipino). August 24, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Li, Matthew (September 3, 2020). "Amanda Villanueva retires at age 28". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Olivares, Rick (March 15, 2015). "Ella de Jesus stands tall with the Lady Eagles". Business Mirror. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "Green Gallery: Lady Spiker Amanda Villanueva". The LaSallian. November 5, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  5. ^ "Palarong Pambansa standouts from Cebu suit up for UST Spikers". The Varsitarian. July 17, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  6. ^ "Lady Falcons ends nine-year final four drought after conquest of UP". The Adamson News. April 24, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  7. ^ Terrado, Reuben (September 20, 2013). "Adamson ends UST's two-year reign, regains women's beach volley title". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  8. ^ Bautista, Ohmer (April 15, 2020). "Philippine Volleyball's biggest stars come together for VCGB's Raffle for Heroes". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (September 3, 2020). "Amanda Villanueva so thankful as she calls time on volleyball career". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Villanueva, Eros (September 3, 2020). "Amanda Villanueva, former Adamson star, announces retirement from volleyball". ESPN. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  11. ^ "Amanda Villanueva Says 'YES!' to Marriage Proposal". January 8, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  12. ^ Hitosis, Jet (9 January 2020). "DJ Rico Robles is now engaged to former Adamson volleyball player Amanda Villanueva". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  13. ^ "New look, new vibes with Perlas' Amanda Villanueva". Philippine Star. August 2, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  14. ^ "IN PHOTOS". GMA Entertainment. December 10, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  15. ^ "Gametime: PVL pro Amanda Villanueva on FHM cover: Being strong and fit is sexy". ABS-CBN News YouTube Channel. August 10, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  16. ^ ""Bawal na game show" Pa Volley naman (TV Episode 2020)". IMDB. September 1, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2024.