Hero Austria
| Hero Austria | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Nationality | Filipino | ||||||||
| Hometown | Parañaque | ||||||||
| College / University | Perpetual | ||||||||
| Volleyball information | |||||||||
| Position | Outside hitter | ||||||||
| Current club | Savouge Spin Doctors | ||||||||
| Number | 24 | ||||||||
| Career | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Hero Austria is a volleyball player who plays for the Savouge Spin Doctors in the Spikers' Turf.
Early life and education
Growing up in Parañaque, Austria learned volleyball from who he called "gay mother figures".[1][2] He attended the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA.[3] He briefly studied at the Arellano University in 2021 before moving back to Perpetual.[4]
Career
High school
Austria has previously played in barangay league before he was spotted by scouts. He eventually played for the Perpetual Altas in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) volleyball championships.[2] Austria played for the Perpetual Junior Altas in the junior division of the NCAA. He was named Finals MVP of the boy's volleyball tournament in NCAA Season 94 (2019) where the team won their fifth consecutive title.[5]
Collegiate
He made his debut for the senior Altas team under coach Sammy Acaylar in the cancelled NCAA Season 95.[2][4] He played with the team at the 2022 Collegiate Challenge of the V-League,[6] He was ineligible to play for Season 98 since he briefly moved to Arellano during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and to serve one-year residency.[4] By August 2023, Austria has changed his mind and did not return to play for Perpetual anymore.[3]
Club
Austria played for the Imus–Ivy Tuason Photography, also coached by Acaylar, at the 2023 Open Conference of the Spikers' Turf.[3][7] In the 2023 Invitational Conference, Austria suited up for the Santa Rosa City Lions.[8]
In 2024, Austria joined the LGBTQ-oriented Savouge Spin Doctors in the Spikers' Turf where he later became team captain.[9][10][11]
Personal life
Austria is a member of the LGBTQ community.[1][10]
References
- ^ a b Micaller, Bea (June 30, 2021). "LGBTQ athletes Ish Polvorosa, Louis Gamban, Hero Austria: Volleyball is our safe space". GMA News. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ a b c "Perpetual's Hero Austria says his gay mother figures encouraged him to excel in volleyball". NCAA. May 4, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ a b c "Sammy Acaylar bares why Hero Austria is not with Perpetual". V League. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ a b c "Hero Austria grateful to Sammy Acaylar for staying patient with him". Spikers Turf. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Agcaoili, Lance (February 8, 2019). "Ebuen makes jump from top rookie to MVP as Almodiel reclaims top plum in NCAA men's". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Valderrama, Aeron Paul (October 21, 2022). "V-League: Austria the hero for Perps in five-set triumph over FEU". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Dannug, Jonash (February 22, 2023). "Spikers Turf: Hero Austria takes charge as Imus dumps Army". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Dannug, Jonash (November 5, 2023). "Spikers Turf: Adamson nips Sta. Rosa in four to keep pace with Cignal". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ "More than a game: How Savouge is making a difference in Spikers' Turf". One Sports. October 4, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ a b "'Kween' Pride: Philippine volleyball flourishes as longtime LGBTQ safe space". Rappler. June 21, 2025. Archived from the original on June 21, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Valencia, Justin (November 25, 2025). "'Nanang' Austria grows into Savouge's guiding voice on and off the court". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 27, 2026.