{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{short description|Filipino volleyball player (born 1996)}} {{Philippine name|Paras|de Leon}} {{Infobox volleyball player | image =File:Palarong_Pambansa_Sports_Center_(Marikina;_2023-07-31)_E911a_06.jpg | name = Bea de Leon | nickname = Bea | fullname = Isabel Beatriz Paras de Leon | nationality = Filipino | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|08|2}} | hometown = Marikina, Philippines | height = {{height|cm=181}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://volleyverse.com/player/27662/bea-de-leon/|title=Bea De Leon|publisher=Volleyverse|via=volleyverse.com}}</ref> | weight = 60 kg (130lbs) | position = Middle Hitter | currentnumber = | college = Ateneo de Manila University | currentclub = Creamline | years1 = 2018 | team1 = Foton Tornadoes | years2 = 2018 | team2 = Ateneo–Motolite | years3 = 2019–2024 | team3 = Choco Mucho | years4 = 2024–present | team4 = Creamline | nationalyears1 = 2015 | nationalteam1 = U23 Manila | nationalyears2 = 2015 | nationalteam2 = SEA Games Singapore }}
'''Isabel Beatriz "Bea" Paras de Leon''' (born August 2, 1996) is a Filipino professional volleyball player who currently plays for the Creamline Cool Smashers in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). She played for the Ateneo Lady Eagles in the UAAP for five straight years and in her final year, led her team to its third championship and was named the UAAP Season 81 Finals MVP.
De Leon was selected to the 2015 Philippine Women's National Volleyball Team that represented the country during U23 and 2015 SEA Games.
==Early life and education== She studied at St. Paul College, Pasig for grade school{{cn|date=September 2024}} and Saint Pedro Poveda College for high school.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/09/03/1495652/bea-de-leon-volleyball-and-how-it-changed-her-world |title=Bea De Leon: Volleyball and how it changed her world |work=The Philippine Star |date=September 3, 2015 |accessdate=September 3, 2024 |last=Olivares |first=Rick}}</ref> 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.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
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.<ref name="ambrosio">{{cite news|url=https://theguidon.com/2023/05/bea-de-leon-building-a-legacy-the-ateneo-way/ |title=Bea De Leon: Building a legacy the Ateneo way |work=The Guidon |date=May 22, 2023 |last1=Bautista |first1=Ralph Anthony |last2=Borres |first2=Sean Jhoyze |accessdate=September 3, 2024}}</ref>
In 2023, she graduated her Masters degree in Sustainability Management at Ateneo Graduate Programs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.onesports.ph/pvl/article/13384/master-bea-choco-mucho-captain-bea-de-leon-completes-postgraduate-degree |title=Master Bea: Choco Mucho captain Bea de Leon completes postgraduate degree |last=Mallari |first=Gab |work=ONE News |date=July 9, 2023 |accessdate=September 3, 2024}}</ref> An academic scholarship was also established in the Ateneo in her name.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.onesports.ph/uaap/article/9561/fan-gets-into-ateneo-through-bea-de-leon-scholarship |title=Fan gets into Ateneo through Bea de Leon Scholarship |last=Mallari |first=Gab |work=ONE News |date=February 10, 2023 |accessdate=September 3, 2024}}</ref>
==Collegiate career== De Leon's mother Det, father Elmer and brother Loel were graduates of the De La Salle University, which has a long-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 players Alyssa Valdez and Denden Lazaro also influenced her to change her decision to switch schools.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-03-22|title=Bonfire blues |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2015/03/22/bonfire-blues/ |access-date=2020-06-30 |website=BusinessMirror |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Olivares |first=Rick |title=Bea De Leon: Volleyball and how it changed her world |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/09/03/1495652/bea-de-leon-volleyball-and-how-it-changed-her-world |access-date=2020-06-30 |website=The Philippine Star}}</ref>
In her debut game in UAAP Season 77, De Leon was an immediate starter for the Ateneo 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, the De La Salle Lady Spikers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/bea-de-leon-ateneo-lady-eagles-uaap-womens-volleyball |title=Fit again Bea de Leon surprised to play and be part of starting six in Ateneo's win over La Salle|last=Lozada|first=Mei Lin| newspaper=Spin|date=February 18, 2015|accessdate=July 24, 2019}}</ref> They successfully defended their title against the Lady Spikers and sweep the season with a perfect 16–0 record.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/14/15/ateneo-claims-back-back-titles-uaap-volleyball|title= Ateneo caps perfect season with 2nd straight UAAP title|last=Camille B.|first=Naredo|work=ABS-CBN News|date= December 27, 2014|access-date=November 8, 2016}}</ref>
On her rookie year in the Ateneo, De Leon was chosen to be a part of the National Team that represented the country in the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/volleyball/94307-infographic-womens-sea-games-volleyball/ |title=INFOGRAPHIC: Meet the SEA Games Philippine women's volleyball team |work=Rappler |date=May 26, 2015 |accessdate=September 3, 2024}}</ref>
In the collegiate conference of Shakey's V-League Season 12, De Leon was awarded with the 2nd Best Middle Blocker Award.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/2015-v-leaguespikers-turf-collegiate-conference-awarding-ceremony/36644 |title=2015 V-League/Spikers' Turf Collegiate Conference Awarding Ceremony |last=Poblador |first=Pablo |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=September 21, 2015 |accessdate=September 3, 2024}}</ref>
Following Ateneo's losses in UAAP Season 78,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/06/17/uaap-womens-volleyball-la-salle-rallies-past-ateneo-to-win-championship|title=La Salle overcomes Ateneo to claim UAAP 78 crown|last=Camille B.|first=Naredo|newspaper=ABS-CBN News|date=April 30, 2016|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref> UAAP Season 79,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/169078-lady-spikers-win-back-to-back-titles-sweep-ateneo/|title=La Salle secures back-to-back titles after sweeping Ateneo|last=Rola|first=Alyssa|newspaper=Rappler|date=May 7, 2017|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref> and UAAP Season 80,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/200751-results-feu-lady-tamaraws-finals-ateneo-eagles-april-21-2018/|title=FEU Lady Tamaraws clinch UAAP Finals berth over Ateneo|last=Go|first=Beatrice|newspaper=Rappler|date=April 22, 2018|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref> De Leon expressed uncertainty on playing her fifth and final year with the Lady Eagles.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/ateneo-lady-eagles-bea-de-leon-uncertain-fifth-year-uaap|title=Bea de Leon uncertain on playing final season with Ateneo Lady Eagles|last=Lozada|first=Mei Lin|newspaper=Spin|date=April 21, 2018|accessdate=July 24, 2019}}</ref> In 2018, she signed with the Foton Tornadoes to start her semi-professional volleyball career<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/bea-de-leon-join-foton/118060|title=Bea De Leon to join Foton|last=Flores|first=Migs|newspaper=Tiebreaker Times|date=June 9, 2018|accessdate=July 24, 2019}}</ref> in the Philippine Super Liga along with Jaja Santiago and Dindin Santiago. After two months of discernment, De Leon decided to play her final season of eligibility in the UAAP<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/22/18/coach-hails-de-leons-return-to-ateneo|title=Coach hails de Leon's return to Ateneo|last=Naredo|first=Camille B.|work=ABS-CBN News|date=July 22, 2018|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref> and served as joint Team Captain with Maddie Madayag for UAAP Season 81.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sports.inquirer.net/337032/maddie-madayag-looks-at-back-her-journey-to-being-one-of-ateneos-leaders |title=Maddie Madayag looks at back her journey to being one of Ateneo's leaders |date=February 2, 2019 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}</ref> Under her leadership, Ateneo won their third Championship against the UST Golden Tigresses with De Leon being named as the Finals MVP.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2019/05/18/1918943/finals-mvp-bea-de-leon-makes-most-final-playing-year-ateneo|title=Finals MVP Bea de Leon makes most of final playing year with Ateneo|last=Morales|first=Luisa|newspaper=Philstar|date=May 18, 2019|accessdate=July 24, 2019}}</ref>
De Leon also represented the Ateneo in the UAAP beach volleyball championships in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/usts-rondina-viray-tandem-feus-pons-atienza-duo-stay-unscathed-in-uaap-bea |title=UST's Rondina-Viray tandem, FEU's Pons-Atienza duo stay unscathed in UAAP beach volley |work=Spin.ph |date=October 6, 2017 |access-date=September 7, 2024}}</ref>
==Professional career== On their transition to the professional league, De Leon and Madayag joined the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the Premier Volleyball League under Oliver Almadro in 2019,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/pvl/choco-mucho-pvl-season-3-open-conference-kat-tolentino-bea-de-leon-maddie-madayag-a2522-20190714 |title=Ateneo standouts banner expansion team Choco Mucho in PVL Open Conference |work=Spin.ph |date=July 14, 2019 |accessdate=September 3, 2024}}</ref> where both became team captains.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sports.inquirer.net/551607/pvl-maddie-madayag-embraces-challenge-back-as-choco-mucho-captain |title=PVL: Madayag embraces challenge as returning Choco Mucho captain |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=February 11, 2024 |accessdate=September 4, 2024}}</ref> In 2024, De Leon, along with Denden Lazaro transferred to the Creamline Cool Smashers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sports.inquirer.net/546328/pvl-bea-de-leon-denden-lazaro-revilla-headed-to-creamline |title=PVL: Bea De Leon, Denden Lazaro-Revilla headed to Creamline |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=January 4, 2024 |accessdate=September 3, 2024}}</ref>
==Other ventures== 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 at Metro Manila Turf Club Race Track).[https://www.philstar.com/pang-masa/pm-sports/2023/10/10/2302562/de-leon-humanga-sa-bea-bell][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbI7bpHEwOo][https://www.abante.com.ph/2023/10/17/juvenile-stakes-race-2nd-leg-aarangkada/]
==Clubs== * {{flagicon|PHI}} Foton Tornadoes (2018) * {{flagicon|PHI}} Ateneo–Motolite Volleyball Team (2018) * {{flagicon|PHI}} Choco Mucho Flying Titans (2019–2024) * {{flagicon|PHI}} Creamline Cool Smashers (2024–present)
==Individual awards== * 2015 Shakey's V-League Collegiate Conference 2nd Best Middle Blocker<ref>{{cite news|last=Ganglani |first=Naveen |title=Alyssa Valdez earns another Shakey's V-League MVP award |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/volleyball/106523-alyssa-valdez-mvp-v-league/ |access-date=April 13, 2025 |work=Rappler|date=September 20, 2015}}</ref> * UAAP Season 81 Finals MVP<ref>{{cite news|last=Isaga |first=JR |title=Ateneo breaks UST's heart, reclaims UAAP volleyball crown |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/230965-season-81-women-volleyball-finals-game-3-results-ateneo-ust-may-18-2019/ |access-date=April 13, 2025 |work=Rappler|date=May 18, 2019}}</ref> * Ambrosio Padilla Athlete of The Year Finalist (2018)<ref name="ambrosio"/> * Premier Volleyball League 2024-2025 All Filipino Conference Best Middle Blocker<ref name="bmb2025">{{cite news|last=Isaga |first=JR |title=Brooke-to-Brooke MVP: Van Sickle rolls to 2nd career PVL top award |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/volleyball/pvl-mvp-awardees-premier-league-all-filipino-conference-2025/ |access-date=April 13, 2025 |work=Rappler|date=April 12, 2025}}</ref>
=== Collegiate === * 2014 ASEAN University Games – File:Med 3.png Bronze medal, with Ateneo Lady Eagles * 2015 UAAP Season 77 – 16px Champion, with Ateneo Lady Eagles * 2015 Shakey's V-League Collegiate Conference – File:Med 2.png Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles *2016 UAAP Season 78 – File:Med 2.png Silver medal, with Ateneo Lady Eagles * 2016 ASEAN University Games – File:Med 3.png Bronze medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles * 2016 Shakey's V-League Collegiate Conference – File:Med 2.png Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles *2017 UAAP Season 79 – File:Med 2.png Silver medal, with Ateneo Lady Eagles *2018 UAAP Season 80 – File:Med 3.png Bronze medal, with Ateneo Lady Eagles *2018 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference – File:Med_2.png Silver medal, with Ateneo Motolite Lady Eagles *2019 UAAP Season 81 – 16px Champion, with Ateneo Lady Eagles
=== Clubs === * 2018 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference – File:Med 2.png Runner-up, with Ateneo–Motolite Lady Eagles<ref>{{cite news|last=Naredo|first=Camille|title=PVL: In last dance with Coach Tai, failure wasn't an option for Creamline|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/11/18/pvl-in-last-dance-with-coach-tai-failure-wasnt-an-option-for-creamline|access-date=August 3, 2021|work=ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs|date=March 14, 2015}}</ref> * 2023 VTV International Women's Volleyball Cup – File:Med 3.png Bronze medal, with Choco Mucho Flying Titans<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=August 27, 2023 |title=Rondina, Madayag shine as Choco Mucho takes VTV Cup bronze |url=https://pvl.ph/news/rondina-madayag-shine-as-choco-mucho-takes-vtv-cup-bronze?fbclid=IwAR06rDfi-TZhhF9pqvX38kOEIoeyjpZE8eW3fIRd9NeZcPQDTmmdDztrxTU |work=Premier Volleyball League |access-date=August 27, 2023}}</ref> * 2023 Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference – Image:Med 2.png 1st Runner-Up, with Choco Mucho Flying Titans * 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference – File:Med 1.png Champions, with Creamline Cool Smashers * 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference – File:Med 1.png Champions, with Creamline Cool Smashers * 2024–25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference – Image:Med 2.png 1st Runner-Up, with Creamline Cool Smashers<ref name="bmb2025"/>
==External links== * {{commonscat-inline}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Creamline Cool Smashers current roster}} {{navboxes|list= {{Creamline Cool Smashers 2024 PVL All-Filipino champions}} {{Creamline Cool Smashers 2024 PVL Reinforced champions}} {{Creamline Cool Smashers 2024 PVL Invitational champions}} {{Creamline Cool Smashers 2026 PVL All-Filipino champions}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Leon, Bea}} Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Manila Category:Ateneo de Manila University alumni Category:1996 births Category:University Athletic Association of the Philippines volleyball players Category:Philippines women's international volleyball players Category:Filipino women's volleyball players Category:Volleyball players from Metro Manila Category:Middle blockers Category:Creamline Cool Smashers players Category:Choco Mucho Flying Titans players