For Nas Gwaza, the road to volleyball stardom was anything but conventional. Playing for Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas in college, the Nigerian middle blocker toiled in relative obscurity. Opportunities to showcase his talent were rare, and the spotlight never quite found him.
"I did college here but not for big schools like Ateneo or La Salle," Gwaza shared candidly. "I played for PCU-Dasmariñas, so there wasn’t a lot of coverage. Of course, no one knew me."
But Gwaza’s determination to make his mark in Philippine volleyball remained unwavering. After graduation, the pandemic left him with limited options. He spent his days playing recreational volleyball in Manila—until fate intervened.
The D’Navigators Iloilo, then preparing for their inaugural campaign in the Spikers’ Turf, spotted Gwaza and offered him a lifeline. He didn’t hesitate.
"The team manager of D’Navigators saw me and asked if I would like to play for the team," Gwaza recalled. "I said sure. That’s what I was looking for. From there, I got my chance and grabbed it."
Gwaza seized the opportunity with both hands. In the 2023 Open Conference, he helped the D’Navigators to a fourth-place finish, all while earning recognition as one of the Best Middle Blockers in the men’s premier league.
His meteoric rise continued with another stint for the team, but the best was yet to come. Ahead of the 2024 season, volleyball powerhouse Cignal HD Spikers came knocking—a dream come true for the 6-foot-1 quicker.
“I always enjoyed playing against Cignal. I wanted to beat them," Gwaza said, his face lighting up at the memory. "So when I got the offer from Cignal, it was a lot of emotions because I actually wanted to play for them."
But this wasn’t Gwaza’s first attempt to join Cignal. For three consecutive years, he sent messages to head coach Dexter Clamor, hoping for a chance.
"I messaged Coach Dex for three years in a row, trying to get on the team, but every time, there was no spot," Gwaza admitted. "But when I played for D’Navigators and got the offer from Cignal, I thought, ‘Maybe I did some good things, and now I’m here.’"
Joining a stacked lineup that includes Alas Pilipinas members JP Bugaoan and Lloyd Josafat hasn’t been easy. Playing time has been sparse, with Gwaza facing fierce competition in training.
"It’s good to compete against the likes of JP and Lloyd—national team players," Gwaza said. "Training is always very intense. Everyone wants to get the minutes, so there’s no time to relax."
Despite the challenges, Gwaza’s confidence remains unshaken.
"I think I might be the smallest middle blocker on the team, but I have very high confidence in myself," he said. "I know what I can do. If the coaches trust me, if my teammates trust me, I can be the very best."
Given his chance to shine against VNS on Friday, Gwaza didn’t disappoint. He delivered 13 points on nine spikes, three blocks, and an ace, earning the Player of the Game honor.
"When the opportunity comes, I make sure it counts," Gwaza emphasized.
