Noel Kampton reflects on his upcoming professional stint in Thailand, as well with Criss Cross in the Spikers’ Turf.
Throughout his young career, Noel Kampton has been blessed to showcase his volleyball skills on some of the Philippines’ biggest stages.
In high school, Kampton played for the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas in the NCAA, where he also represented the National Capital Region (NCR) in the Palarong Pambansa.
Following his career at Perps, Kampton took his act to the UAAP, helping the DLSU Green Spikers return to the Final Four after a lengthy absence. Amid this stretch, the explosive hitter has also been given the opportunity to represent the country in international tournaments.
But despite everything that he’s accomplished, Kampton never expected that he would one day fulfill his dream of playing volleyball overseas — a dream inspired by Marck Espejo’s move to Japan’s Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler at the end of his UAAP career in 2018.
On top of signing with the Criss Cross King Crunchers in the Spikers’ Turf, the first arc of Kampton’s professional career will see him suit up as an Asian import for PSNKK Club in the Volleyball Thailand League (VTL) from January to April next year.
“Sabi ko ito, next level na, magiging import ako sa Thailand!” Kampton told The GAME in an exclusive interview. “Sabi ko sa wife ko and sa mommy ko, we made it kasi ‘yun na ‘yung goal. Yun na talaga, so sana tuloy-tuloy lang ‘yun.”
It was Tyrone Carodan, a former UST Golden Spiker and VTL import, who first connected Kampton to the Thai volleyball scene, reaching out around April this year to inquire about the ace hitter’s interest and availability toward being an Asian import in Thailand.
From here, Kampton was introduced to PSNKK Club owner Jacky Prasertnikornkul, who had actually been keeping tabs on his game in the UAAP.
“Sabi nga sakin ni Sir Jacky na fino-follow daw ako, pinapanood daw ‘yung laro ko. He knows me well daw, and ayun, he [asked] kung gusto ko daw maglaro sa kanila. Sabi ko ‘Of course, 100 percent!’ I want to go with you guys.”
While Carodan planted the initial seeds, it was Kampton’s manager, Suki Salvador, who finalized his entry into PSNKK, taking care of the needed paperwork and logistics to fulfill the ace hitter’s overseas aspirations.
“Thankful ako kay Kuya Tyrone kasi siya talaga nag-connect lahat, pero hindi ko magagawa kasi ang daming process sa paglipat ng papers. So si Suki na talaga gumawa ng lahat, as in siya nag-asikaso! Minake sure niya na kung saan ako magsi-stay,” said Kampton, who was eyeing a Maldives stint before being urged by Salvador to wait for PSNKK’s offer sheet.
Golden opportunity
Now, Kampton becomes the latest Filipino volleyball player to take his act overseas, joining a list headlined by men’s volleyball pillars Espejo and Bryan Bagunas. In fact, both stars have been supportive of Kampton’s overseas aspirations, and have provided veteran wisdom toward the ace hitter.
According to Kampton, Bagunas even tried to connect him with FIVB-licensed agents in the past, while Espejo is one of his go-to persons for advice on both life and volleyball.
“Si Kuya Bry, sinasabihan niya ako palagi na magpalakas daw ako. ‘Yung talent, nandiyan na pero mag-focus daw ako, lakasan ko pa daw ‘yung passing ko,” Kampton said. “Si Kuya Marck naman same din sila ni Kuya Bry, pero ang sinasabi niya ‘yung [dapat] marunong makisama kasi hindi natin bansa ‘yun, ika nga, foreigner ako doon.”
Kampton’s upcoming Thailand debut, though, goes deeper than a lifelong dream being fulfilled, or following in his idols’ footsteps. For him, it’s also a golden chance to further his advocacy of garnering more support for Philippine men’s volleyball.
Whether it’s through off-the-court means such as vlogging, or by giving his best on the court, a part of Kampton’s goals as an Asian import is bringing an increased spotlight on the men’s game through his own means.
“Para lang makilala na rin ‘yung men’s volleyball, at sana, may mga mapuntang imports din satin dito sa Pilipinas, mag-tayo din ‘yung Spikers’ Turf [ng Reinforced Conference],” he said.
“Siyempre ipapakita ko rin [in Thailand] yung mentality ko na ayaw ko magpatalo, pati ‘yung experiences ko rin at nalaro ko [previously] sa abroad, ‘yung mga sa training camp ko, ‘yun yung i-share ko sa kanila,” Kampton, who has played overseas as a national team member, added.
Kampton is just as excited for his personal growth, knowing that a foreign league stint will broaden his overall game and approach to volleyball. For instance, Thai volleyball places an added premium on power, while players are taller than what he is used to in the Philippines.
There is also Thailand’s sporting culture, where rigorous practices aren’t just limited to one session every morning or afternoon, according to Kampton. For him, any lessons he will pick up here can also be used to elevate the quality of volleyball in the Philippines.
“May kanya–kanyang culture sa Thailand eh, ‘yung culture nila sa training, magkakaiba. Sa Thailand, normal lang sa kanila na twice a day, thrice a day na training! Sinabihan nga ako na training namin twice a day daw, kaya medyo nagre-ready na rin ako eh, ubos oras talaga sa volleyball,” said the ace hitter.
Being eight-time Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) gold medalists, Kampton knows that Thai players hold themselves to a certain standard, which can also sharpen his mindset on top of the skills he will pick up from playing in a foreign country.
“Kasi madali sila nag-champion sa SEA Games ‘di ba, sa volleyball? So ‘yun ‘yung gusto ko matutunan sa Thailand ‘yung winning mentality talaga kasi maganda rin ‘yun pag madadala ko eh,” explained Kampton, who is excited to play with Thai national team member, Jenthaisong Supakorn, in PSNKK.
As excited as he is, however, Noel Kampton knows that his journey is just beginning, and being signed by a team can be a hit or miss situation. If all goes well, then you could be given a prominent role on your team, or have enough minutes to be impactful when given court time.
But on the other hand, players may also spend their time riding the bench, which could be attributed to factors such as an overabundance in their position, or a mismatch in the style of play being run by their team.
“Kahit may Thailand offer ako, hindi ako magiging complacent kasi anytime, malay mo, isang season lang ako doon tas tapos na. Gusto ko tuloy-tuloy ‘yung magiging international exposure ko sana. Hopefully, ‘yun lang yung goal ko.”
Getting over the hump
As mentioned, PSNKK Club won’t be the only team that Noel Kampton will suit up for, with Criss Cross serving as his mother club in the Philippines. Crucial to Kampton’s decision-making was their support toward his upcoming Thailand stint, as well as their platforms for players’ lives after volleyball.
Like PSNKK, Criss Cross promises to bring a treasure trove of lessons for Kampton, given the names he will link up with in the Rebisco-owned squad, including Espejo, former National University gunner Nico Almendras, and the Alas Pilipinas beach duo of Jude Garcia and Jaron Requinton, to name a few.
‘Yung matutunan ko sa kanila is paano ang sistema ng Criss Cross at kung paano ang sistema pagdating sa Spikers’ Turf. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, sa Criss Cross, na whether first six or second six ako, ready ako. Kumbaga, magiging reinforcement ako,” Kampton said.
Last but not least is head coach Tai Bundit — Ateneo’s title-winning tactician in the Alyssa Valdez era — who is also helping Kampton prepare for his daily practices with PSNKK.
“Tinanong ko ‘Coach, your training and Thailand training is just the same?’ Sabi niya ‘yes, just the same, but different time…Parang sabi niya twice a day daw. So napaisip na ako, okay sige, mare-ready na ako dito para pagdating ko dun sa Thailand, ‘yung transition ko hindi na ako maninibago,” Kampton recalled, while giving Coach Tai’s training an “11/10” rating in terms of difficulty.
“Gusto niya malakas ‘yung resistensya namin, ‘yun talaga. Kasi para daw pag sa [matagal] na laro, hindi kami basta-basta susuko dahil sa pagod, ‘yun ‘yung na-adapt ko ngayon.”
Kampton has only been with the King Crunchers for around two weeks, but has been fitting in nicely with the team’s fun-loving culture led by veterans such as Rex Intal, Geuel Asia, Krung Alabasto, and many more.
On top of this, he also pointed out Criss Cross’ hunger to end the Cignal HD Spikers’ rule in the Spikers’ Turf, which ties in nicely with his own desire to win an elusive championship.
“Natutuwa ako sa kultura ni Criss Cross. Ika nga, yung kultura ni Criss Cross ngayon, sa ngayon lang, gutom sila, gutom manalo. Kasi last season, muntik na. Ngayon mas lalong gutom sila lalo.”
A breakthrough incoming?
Throughout Noel Kampton’s time in the UAAP, a shot at the championship proved to be elusive, and his three years in indoor play saw DLSU fall short of a podium finish. As Kampton recalls, his last medal came in 2022, when he and Vince Maglinao finished second runner-up in the UAAP Season 84 Beach Volleyball Tournament.
Now entering the professional scene, sustained success is something that Kampton hopes to achieve when he dons both the Criss Cross and PSNKK Club threads later this year.
“‘Yun na nga, sabi ko sayo, ilang years na ako walang panalo sa UAAP! Three years to be exact na lagi akong kinakapos. Siguro last podium pa ako ‘yung rookie pa ako sa La Salle during beach volley,” Kampton reflected.
“Kaya very excited ako, ‘yun nga sabi ko sa Criss Cross…sabi kasi nila na gutom si Coach Tai. Sabi ko, ‘ma’am [team manager Lizanne Co], sir [co-team manager Alan Acero], kung gutom si Coach Tai, mas gutom po ako kasi ang tagal ko na po hindi nagcha-champion’.”
Both PSNKK and Criss Cross are contenders in their respective leagues, with PSNKK coming off a bronze medal finish in the 2024-25 VTL season, while Criss Cross has established itself as a finals contender behind Cignal in the Spikers’ Turf.
There might be rookie jitters at first, or even the struggles in facing wiser competition, but for sure, Noel Kampton bringing his desire to get a championship that has eluded him throughout his amateur career.
“So ‘yun, excited lang din ako na kung anong matutunan ko, and hopefully talaga, ‘yun nga ‘yung sinasabi ko sa kanila na ma-reach na ‘yung goal na syempre, mag-champion.”
Banner images courtesy of Cas Aseoche and the UAAP Media Bureau.