Former La Salle Lady Spiker May Luna Lumahan is hugged by her Nxled teammates after her final game in the PVL.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — May Luna-Lumahan is hanging up her volleyball jersey after spending 15 years of her life playing the sport.
After Nxled’s final game against ZUS Coffee in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at Ynares Center Montalban, the Chameleons turned sentimental, hugging Lumahan and posting pictures of her on social media.
READ: PVL: May Luna leads Nxled to emotional win days after mom’s passing
The 27-year-old spiker revealed to Inquirer Sports that she had decided to retire.
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“It wasn’t an easy decision, and it took a lot of reflection. Volleyball has been my life for almost 15 years, so stepping away meant letting go of something that shaped me. But there were important things I had to consider,” Lumahan told the Inquirer.
“First, I recently got married. And in the middle of chasing dreams and playing season after season, I realized we never truly had the time to enjoy our married life. I want to give myself the chance to invest fully in my husband and in the family we’re building.
Second, I’m not getting any younger. Volleyball has been my world for almost 15 years, and I’ve given so much of myself to this sport. I reached a point where I felt that it’s enough—that I’ve done my part, and I no longer have anything to prove to myself. It just felt like the right time to step into a new chapter of my life.”
Lumahan was part of the De La Salle Lady Spikers team that won three consecutive UAAP championships from Season 78 to 80.
READ: PVL: Nxled gets May Luna as teams continue to fill the pieces
The 5-foot-9 spiker also played for F2 Logistics in the defunct Philippine Superliga (PSL) in 2018 and began her PVL pro career with Cignal and Chery Tiggo.
She found a home at Nxled — her club since 2023 — and felt fulfilled as she bid farewell to the sport.
“I am completely, wholeheartedly fulfilled. From a girl in Tagum City, to DLSU, and all the way to the pro league… I’ve lived a journey bigger than what I ever imagined for myself. Sometimes I look back and think, “God really brought me so far,” Lumahan said.
“I’m deeply grateful to God for strengthening me through every chapter the wins, the losses, the hard trainings, the breakthroughs. I’m grateful to Coach Ramil De Jesus, who believed in me when I didn’t even know how far I could go. I’m grateful to every team who trusted me, who gave me a place to grow. And to my Ninong, Sir Flavius (Dulce) of Hustle and Groove, thank you for guiding me and supporting me throughout my entire pro career. Because of all of them, and because of every teammate and supporter I met along the way, my heart feels complete. No regrets, only gratitude.”
“I think this is the best time also to thank my Akari and Nxled family, and Sir Chris Tiu and family, for all the support you’ve given me. I truly felt your trust and belief in me, and I’m deeply grateful for everything,” she added.
READ: Little playing time, big impact: May Luna shines in Game 1 win
The pride of Davao said her best career highlights aren’t just the wins, the games, or the achievements. It was inspiring young athletes through her journey of dreaming and pushing harder.
“If there’s a legacy I want to leave, it’s the passion I carried. I hope people remember me not just for how I played, but for how much I loved the sport and how much I wanted others to love it too. I hope I became a spark, even in a small way, for the next generation. That’s the kind of legacy that lasts longer than any trophy or medal,” said Lumahan.
Lumahan believes good things await the Chameleons as they seek to bounce back from a winless Reinforced stint.
“I know every single one of you has greatness in you. Trust yourselves, trust each other, and play with the same fire that brought you this far,” she said. “Even if I won’t be there on the court, my heart will always be cheering for you. I’ll be supporting all of you, always. Believe in your strength and in the story you’re writing. You are capable of more than you know and I can’t wait to witness your journey from the sidelines.”
As she steps away from volleyball, Lumahan plans to spend more time with her husband and let her body rest after years of hard work.
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“I want to give myself permission to slow down and rediscover life outside the court. I want to spend more time with my husband, time that’s intentional, present, and full of moments we’ve missed. Maybe we’ll travel a bit, explore new things together, and build memories that don’t involve training schedules or season deadlines,” she said. “It’s a new season of life, and for the first time in a long time, I’m excited to see who I can be beyond volleyball.”