Sisters Milka and Mandy Romero talk to The GAME about their journey as PVL team owners and advocating for Filipina athletes.
Being the daughters of sports patron Mikee Romero, sisters Milka and Mandy Romero have been exposed to sports for as long as they can remember. As they recall, their dad has ventured into just about every sport: basketball, jet skiing, and polo are just a few.
But the Romero patriarch is also well known for owning several sports teams, including the NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA, its predecessor Harbour Center in the PBL, and the AirAsia Flying Spikers in the PSL.
So if you were in the Romero household, chances are you’d be talking about the games over dinner or merienda on the daily.
“We grew up from playing, to watching, or supporting each other, and it first started, of course, with our father influencing us at a young age,” the elder Romero sister, Milka, tells The GAME. “It’s definitely been a topic throughout our childhood and even now on our lunch and dinner table, so it’s a big portion of our upbringing.”
Younger sister Mandy adds, “I think for us, sports is our life really, it’s what has opened so many doors and opportunities for us as siblings, and also it’s really developed the person that we are.”
A sports-oriented upbringing also led to a playing career for the Romero sisters. Milka was a former captain with the Ateneo Lady Booters during the 2010s, while Mandy was a member of the country’s Muay Thai national team.
Even their younger brother Santi is currently with the DLSU Green Archers and was part of the Gilas Youth pool. Whether it was their dad, or themselves as siblings, there was always a source of sporting inspiration in the Romero household.
“Our dad, just for more context, he has played almost every sport, not going to lie! He’s a trained martial artist, also a basketball player, jet skiing, polo, and with the [2019] SEA Games [for polo]. So except for soccer…my sister was my inspiration for getting into soccer naman when I was younger,” Mandy recalls.
“I think it was just more innate in us because it was something that we were always exposed to, all these different sports that we’re not really looking as if we’re doing a sport, but we’re just having fun and we’re just there to learn.”
On the other hand, the Romero sisters admit growing up in a much different sporting climate. Sure, the sisters’ inspirations were aplenty at home or in school, but not every young Filipina athlete had a set of idols to look up to during their own time as players.
For instance, volleyball has the likes of Alyssa Valdez and Michele Gumabao who could inspire young spikers to turn professional. But in her native football, Milka Romero recalls that the FIFA Women’s World Cup was still on the rise by the time she finished her UAAP career with Ateneo.
“It wasn’t to an extent na I want to take [professional football] seriously because I didn’t see an example of that, I didn’t see anyone. I saw an example of somebody being a captain, and I ended up becoming a captain of my football team…But an actual direct [influence] na I see that on TV and wow there’s a career, [I didn’t have that],” the elder Romero recalls of the time following her UAAP exit.
Though Milka and Mandy Romero’s playing careers are over now, they have crossed over to the management side of sports. And in this new endeavor, they say, they are chasing their goal of uplifting Filipinas in the Philippine sports scene.
Golden opportunity
Today, Milka and Mandy Romero are the owners of the Capital1 Solar Spikers, one of the Premier Volleyball League’s newest expansion teams. The Solar Spikers joined the PVL in January last year, replacing the now-defunct F2 Logistics Cargo Movers for the 2024 season.
Although they are young, the Romero sisters didn’t exactly head into this venture blind, having witnessed their dad manage his teams including AirAsia in the PSL. Moreover, it was also the opportunity to promote their advocacy for women in sports.
“The direction that we’re going for here is to be a part of empowering women’s sports, so volleyball is hopefully one of the first of many initiatives in this long-term goal that we have in supporting women in sports,” says Milka. “Luckily, the PVL franchise was open and we all know that [Philippine volleyball] is a growing community.”
“Although it’s not our first sport, we were not apprehensive in joining volleyball and learning in the past year that we were able to be really part of the community and at the same time, them welcoming us to hopefully being a big player in volleyball as well,” the elder Romero sister added, acknowledging the opportunity to work closely with female athletes.
The move, of course, wasn’t without its challenges. On one hand, the Romero sisters had gotten the iconic Roger Gorayeb to buy into their vision along with longtime F2 Logistics team manager Hollie Reyes.
However, on the other hand, time wasn’t on their side in building the team. As Mandy recalls, they had just “three weeks” to prepare for their 2024 All-Filipino Conference debut — not to mention their competitors were already established with their current generation stars.
The PVL had also abolished its direct hiring scheme, so top collegiate stars had to wait until the Rookie Draft to make their professional debuts. But the Romero sisters weren’t naive and knew these struggles were necessary learning curves for their newest venture.
“We always knew that this was going to be a long-term process, and that’s why I always say that Rome wasn’t built in a day,” says Mandy. “So that’s been a part of our challenges, but in an optimistic way, that we’re developing the synergies between the players we’re getting and also with the management.”
While still in the process of building, the Romero sisters have their athletic backgrounds to rely on. Being former athletes and two female owners, they explained, this can help them understand their players on a deeper level.
“Like having a family or being pregnant, these are really a lot of things na we can empathize with, na wow! They can do that at the same time be very competitive, and very strong. And it’s a whole different ballgame literally being a woman while being an athlete, so because we experienced that, we’re able to make decision-making and lines of communication more direct,” Milka explains.
Mandy had similar thoughts, adding that this allows them to be more “passionate” as the Solar Spikers’ team owners. It’s still a work in progress, but their playing careers are serving as the foundation for the “ride or die” culture they’re trying to build.
“One that also extends to building a family as sisters at the helm of it. And it’s just actually very refreshing to be in the women’s league because it’s just a lot more relatable for us both,” the younger Romero said. “Like what they’ve been going through, the mental barriers…Of course, this is what we’re experiencing as a rookie team and in our rookie year as well.”
One year in
It was in the 2024 Reinforced Conference when Capital1 showed promise, having reloaded with rookie draft picks Leila Cruz, Roma Mae Doromal, and Jenya Torres. They also signed veteran setter Iris Tolenada, while Coach Roger’s connections netted them the prolific but unknown Marina Tushova.
“That was a big jump for us from our first chapter as starting the team,” Mandy reflects. “Our mindset was ‘Okay, it’s about winning the first set, then thinking about winning the next game’. Like, it’s really a buildup.”
The Solar Spikers finished seventh in the import-laden conference, before falling in a narrow loss to the Cignal HD Spikers in the quarterfinals. In this Cinderella run, Tushova had also reset the PVL single-game scoring records thrice, which included her 50-pointer versus Cignal.
“And I think for a rookie team building that confidence, that rapport, that synergy especially — jelling in volleyball is very important — [the 2024 Reinforced Conference] was everything for us, building that confidence that, ‘Wow, we’re winning a bit more consistently’,” Mandy reflected.
And in that historic run, the Solar Spikers also saw a different side of Tushova, who admitted to reaching a higher level of play under Coach Roger’s meticulous coaching style.
“She was kind enough to thank the coaching style of Coach Roger, and also how much he was pushing her, challenging her with different techniques and to go beyond her limit…And to us as management, we’re really grateful that she attributed her historic wins also to being part of a team that really encourages her and builds her up,” Mandy said, recalling their time with the beloved Russian spiker.
“And that’s a testament also to the entire team that wasn’t actually just her win, but it was a reflection of a team that’s building their trust and confidence in one another of those were great milestones for us.”
Capital1 marked its first anniversary last January, and like her sister, Milka Romero is glad with the team’s progress. It’s a long, long way to go, but the older Romero knows that they have a potent mix of young players and veteran staffers within the team.
“If you look at the overall scheme of things, we were able to quickly create a team that was able to make an impact right away…and we have been humbled to say that it’s more of consistency now, more of how do we set the bar higher for each conference,” Milka said.
Whether it’s the Cruz and Doromal-led youngsters, or Gorayeb’s coaching staff, the Solar Spikers will have something to build on as they try to build a competitive team in the PVL.
“How can we improve our players, with our coaching, or our management? So we know that it’s for the long run, but with the one year alone, we’re happy to gain a lot more fans, people are rooting for our team na we wouldn’t have thought because we know naman na it’s hard to go against these established teams.”
From an ownership standpoint, Milka hopes to continue building a passion and family-oriented culture within Capital1.
“Like what [Mandy] said, ‘yung puso is there. We want to get players to play for love of the game, for the love and support of our franchise, Capital1. So we’re really trying to build that kind of family spirit,” she said.
“So starting off with us being sister owners, that alone shows that our passion is there for women in sports, so that transcends down to our management and also how our team environment is.”
After a year’s worth of experience in the PVL, Milka believes that competitiveness will be the Solar Spikers’ biggest hurdle in the long run. However, it won’t be any easier to keep up, given the Draft regulations and contending teams’ firmly established cores.
“You need to keep up and be competitive by getting better or getting new players…So hopefully in the next three years, we’ll be the team to have new players shine or identify new players that can be the next superstars,” Milka reflects.
“So that’s our goal now, not just playing with who we can get within the roster, but also identifying new players that can build the franchise with us. So that’s it, it’s a challenge, but at the same time it’s also an opportunity.”
Bright future ahead
But as mentioned earlier, Milka and Mandy Romero’s new sporting journey won’t be limited to Capital1 in the PVL. Now in a different side of Philippine sports, the drive to pay it forward remains stronger than ever for the Romero sisters.
“It’s definitely giving back and being an example now for others, and it’s very, very, very humbling to hear when people say that they’re inspired with what we’re doing as sisters for the sport, or even just women leaders,” Milka said.
Milka also pointed out the steady rise of star Filipina athletes, which she hopes to boost even if she’s now on the sidelines with her younger sister.
“But now, there’s so many women in sports that are excelling, from tennis to our Olympians. So talagang to be witnessing that now as a team owner is something that I’m happy to partake in even if I’m not playing anymore, or I don’t have that mindset anymore that maybe I can be a professional because players can play until they’re 37,” the elder Romero said.
“There are now examples of [women in sports] on TV, on social media. So hopefully me and my sister will be purveyors of that kind of message.”
The younger Mandy, who had dreams of pursuing a professional Muay Thai career, shared similar thoughts with her Ate. Now on the management side of sports, it’s going to be a matter of giving young Filipinas the opportunity to pursue a professional sports career.
“Although we didn’t have that opportunity ourselves, it’s our dream to build that [platform] for others, so they can dream that big and that young girls today can become professional athletes and represent our country in the future and make their living out of it too,” Mandy said.
But what about Capital1? As they’ve said, the goal to build a competent team in the PVL remains along with their “grassroots programs” to discover volleyball talents outside of Metro Manila.
“Hopefully after the [2024-25 All-Filipino Conference] of course, it’s time to regroup and there’s another draft coming up. There’s another Reinforced right after, so yeah, I think every conference you’ll see a better and better Capital1,” added the younger Romero sister.
Banner images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.