Let these slang words guide you, so the next time you hear it; you will not be the new player anymore. 

1. Happy Birthday

This is commonly used during a play in volleyball when someone’s spike fly outside the court. Worse if the ball hit the bleachers or the crowd rather than the floor.

2. Puto

Puto is known as a merienda but for the volleyball athletes, it is what you say after receiving a heavy spike or service with ease and not even moving an inch.

3. Ipis

Most of the girls are scared of ipis, more even of the “flying ipis na feeling butterfly”. However, what others did not know is that this word can be associated with players who are fast and quick to save the ball, and in just a matter of seconds, they can reach from one end of the court to another.

4. Regalo

Regalo is a  slang term used to describe a free ball—almost like a present.

5. Home run

Homerun is a technical term used in playing baseball but for volleyball, the term begs to differ. A home run is when a service goes a long way out of the court.

6. Bomba

We all know that a bomb is an explosive that can ruin something, big time. However, this is now associated with receiving the volleyball and it goes flying off course.

7. Toblerone

Once again for a volleyball slang term, when the supposedly straight receive goes to a slant pattern that resulted in a misreceive.

8. Mangkukulam

This pertains to lucky scores that you did not expect to get, such as when the ball ended up stuck up the net making the ball fall behind the opponent’s court in a snap.

9. Piso

While this term has the same definition in the latter word, this is true for the badminton players only, but this one is not common knowledge for everyone who plays this sport.

10. Bakaw

The most famous term in basketball for players who are not team players and don’t want to pass that much. They only care for their individual score sheet rather than the team’s performance.

11. Butata/ Supalpal

A word to describe a solid block.

12. Pektus

This term is also linked in basketball for layups and even in volleyball for spikes.

13. Mat eating

Cheerleaders can relate to this one as it is the most famous scene that can happen to them, be it in training or competition. A.k.a face planting where a cheerleader ends up sticking their face on the floor after a failed attempt of a particular stunt.

14. Ibirit mo lang

Seems like for singers right? But you got it all wrong as this word is also used by pep squads. When the coach says ibirit mo lang it means that the flyer should twist even more its body or just to make the skill perfect.

15. Ad-lib

The extra movement that the team did not practice for or anticipated that made the routine more applauding.

16. Luto

No, this is not a food. Luto is a word used by Filipinos to tell the referees that they are not satisfied with the decision of a game. Especially when legit fouls are being missed and phantom fouls are being called to decide a close game.

17. Nag-kape sa ere

Popularized in the late 80’s up to the early 90’s that describe those ridiculous aerial moves by PBA legends Samboy Lim and Vergel Meneses—where do you think they got their names such as “The Skywalker” and “The Aerial Voyager.” Athletes that can float on air is a perfect fit for this term.

18. Takbong mayaman

Many can probably relate to this word, especially basketball players. That simple yet classy running-backwards-with-a-look-like-you’ve-just-won-the-lottery move is what Pinoys like to call Takbong mayaman.

19. Rebanse 

If you find yourself on the losing side of the game; there is a word that Pinoys like to use to take revenge and that is Rebanse.

Let these words be implanted on you that even though you don’t get to experience playing the game at least you know how these words can have a different meaning.