| Bea de Leon | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_E911a_06.jpg) | |||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Full name | Isabel Beatriz Paras de Leon | ||||||||||
| Nickname | Bea | ||||||||||
| Nationality | Filipino | ||||||||||
| Born | (1996-08-02)August 2, 1996 (age 29) | ||||||||||
| Hometown | Marikina,Philippines | ||||||||||
| Height | 181 cm (5 ft11+1⁄2 in)[1] | ||||||||||
| Weight | 60 kg (130lb) | ||||||||||
| College / University | Ateneo de Manila University | ||||||||||
| Volleyball information | |||||||||||
| Position | Middle Hitter | ||||||||||
| Current club | Creamline | ||||||||||
| Career | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Isabel Beatriz "Bea" Paras de Leon (born August 2, 1996) is a Filipino professional volleyball player who currently plays for theCreamline Cool Smashers in thePremier Volleyball League (PVL). She played for theAteneo Lady Eagles in the UAAP for five straight years and in her final year, led her team to its third championship and was named theUAAP Season 81 Finals MVP.
De Leon was selected to the 2015Philippine Women's National Volleyball Team that represented the country duringU23 and2015 SEA Games.
She studied atSt. Paul College, Pasig for grade school[citation needed] andSaint Pedro Poveda College for high school.[2] She became the team captain for its high school girls' volleyball team. She also received the Athlete of the Year award for Volleyball during her graduation in Poveda.[citation needed]
De Leon was a consistent Dean's lister in the Ateneo and graduated with a degree in AB Management Economics. De Leon was a finalist for the Ambrosio Padilla Athlete of the Year Award in 2018, recognizing athletes of the university who excel both in academics and sports.[3]
In 2023, she graduated her Masters degree in Sustainability Management at Ateneo Graduate Programs.[4] An academic scholarship was also established in the Ateneo in her name.[5]
De Leon's mother Det, father Elmer and brother Loel were graduates of theDe La Salle University, which has along-running rivalry with the Ateneo. Her first choice for college was also La Salle but decided to go to Ateneo because her preferred course was unavailable at the time in DLSU and she lived nearer to the former school. Veteran Ateneo playersAlyssa Valdez andDenden Lazaro also influenced her to change her decision to switch schools.[6][7]
In her debut game inUAAP Season 77, De Leon was an immediate starter for theAteneo Lady Eagles. The 5'11 middle blocker established herself as a threat in the middle for the defending champions with her powerful quick hits and blocks. She was a top contender for the Rookie of the Year Award averaging 9 pts per game, but in the mid-season, she injured her right index finger in training that caused her to be sidelined for two weeks and missed three games in the process. She returned in the last game of eliminations and helped her team go back to the finals scoring 11 points against their archrival, theDe La Salle Lady Spikers.[8] They successfully defended their title against the Lady Spikers and sweep the season with a perfect 16–0 record.[9]
On her rookie year in the Ateneo, De Leon was chosen to be a part of the National Team that represented the country in the2015 SEA Games inSingapore.[10]
In the collegiate conference ofShakey's V-League Season 12, De Leon was awarded with the 2nd Best Middle Blocker Award.[11]
Following Ateneo's losses inUAAP Season 78,[12]UAAP Season 79,[13] andUAAP Season 80,[14] De Leon expressed uncertainty on playing her fifth and final year with the Lady Eagles.[15] In 2018, she signed with theFoton Tornadoes to start her semi-professional volleyball career[16] in thePhilippine Super Liga along withJaja Santiago andDindin Santiago. After two months of discernment, De Leon decided to play her final season of eligibility in the UAAP[17] and served as joint Team Captain withMaddie Madayag forUAAP Season 81.[18] Under her leadership, Ateneo won their third Championship against theUST Golden Tigresses with De Leon being named as the Finals MVP.[19]
De Leon also represented the Ateneo in theUAAP beach volleyball championships in 2017.[20]
On their transition to the professional league, De Leon and Madayag joined theChoco Mucho Flying Titans in thePremier Volleyball League underOliver Almadro in 2019,[21] where both became team captains.[22] In 2024, De Leon, along with Denden Lazaro transferred to theCreamline Cool Smashers.[23]
As co-horse breeder with her father Elmer, de Leon owns Bell Racing Stable"Bea Bell" (champions of both 2023 PHILRACOM "2-Year-Old Maiden Stakes Race" with P720,000 prize and the October 22, 2023 "2nd Leg Juvenile Stakes Race" with prize of P1,080,000 atMetro Manila Turf Club Race Track).[1][2][3]
Foton Tornadoes (2018) Ateneo–Motolite Volleyball Team (2018)Choco Mucho Flying Titans (2019–2024)Creamline Cool Smashers (2024–present)
Bronze medal, with Ateneo Lady Eagles
Champion, with Ateneo Lady Eagles
Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles Silver medal, with Ateneo Lady Eagles Bronze medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles Silver medal, with Ateneo Lady Eagles Bronze medal, with Ateneo Lady Eagles Silver medal, with Ateneo Motolite Lady Eagles Champion, with Ateneo Lady Eagles Runner-up, with Ateneo–Motolite Lady Eagles[27] Bronze medal, withChoco Mucho Flying Titans[28] 1st Runner-Up, withChoco Mucho Flying Titans
Champions, with Creamline Cool Smashers Champions, with Creamline Cool Smashers 1st Runner-Up, with Creamline Cool Smashers[26]
Media related toBea de Leon at Wikimedia Commons