Nico Almendras
{{Short description|Filipino volleyball player (born 1999)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox volleyball player
| name = Nico Almendras
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Angelo Nicolas Almendras
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|07|27}}
| birth_place = Mandaluyong, Philippines
| nationality = Filipino
| hometown =
| height = 186cm
| position = Outside Hitter
| college = National University
| currentnumber = 1
| currentteam = Criss Cross King Crunchers
| years1 = 2019–2023
| team1 = Sta. Elena Ball Hammers
| years2 = 2024–present
| team2 = Criss Cross King Crunchers
| nationalyears1 = 2024–present
| nationalteam1 = Philippines
| medaltemplates =
}}
Angelo Nicolas "Nico" Almendras (born July 27, 1999) is a Filipino volleyball player. He played as an outside hitter for the NU Bulldogs in the UAAP.{{cite web|title= UAAP: Graduating Retamar, Almendras confident of NU Bulldogs' future|url=https://sports.inquirer.net/566738/uaap-graduating-retamar-almendras-confident-of-nu-bulldogs-future|access-date=8 June 2024}} He is currently playing for the Criss Cross King Crunchers in the Spikers' Turf.
Career
=Collegiate=
Almendras play for the Bulldogs of the National University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.{{cite web|title=Almendras stars as NU gets back at FEU to gain top spot in Final four|url=https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/uaap-men/almendras-stars-as-nu-gets-back-at-feu-to-gain-top-spot-in-final-four-a2522-20190428|access-date=8 June 2024}}
He played his last playing year with Bulldogs in Season 86 of the UAAP, where the team bagged the first 4-peat championship of the school.{{cite web|title=Retamar, Almendras bid farewell with glory as NU secures UAAP men's volleyball four peat|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/retamar-almendras-bid-farewell-with-glory-as-nu-secures-uaap-mens-volleyball-four-peat/302978 |access-date=8 June 2024}}
=Club=
Almendras played for the Sta. Elena Ball Hammers which played at the 2022 Open Conference and 2023 Invitational Conferences of the Spikers' Turf. He joined the Criss Cross King Crunchers in June 2024.{{cite news |last1=Ambat |first1=Pao |title=NU standout Nico Almendras opens new chapter in volleyball career, joins Criss Cross King Crunchers in Spikers' Turf |url=https://www.onesports.ph/more-sports/article/22246/spikers-turf-nu-standout-nico-almendras-opens-new-chapter-in-volleyball-career-joins-criss-cross-king-crunchers |access-date=28 February 2025 |work=OneSports.ph |date=27 June 2024 |language=en}}
=National team=
In 2024, he became part of Alas Pilipinas, the national volleyball team of the Philippines, where the team competed in the 2024 Asian Men's Volleyball Challenge Cup and placed 10th in the tournament.{{cite web|title=Nico Almendras shines as Alas men claim breakthrough win against Indonesia in AVC Challenge Cup|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/nico-almendras-shines-as-alas-men-claim-breakthrough-win-against-indonesia-in-avc-challenge-cup/304682|access-date=8 June 2024}}
Personal life
Almendras is married to Justine Pesigan since 2025.{{cite news |last1=Dannug |first1=Jonash |title=Nico Almendras returns with renewed purpose after wedding, fatherhood announcement |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/nico-almendras-returns-with-renewed-purpose-after-wedding-fatherhood-announcement/328714#google_vignette |access-date=28 February 2025 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=28 February 2025}}
Clubs
- {{flagicon|PHI}} Sta. Elena Ball Hammers (2018–2023)
- {{flagicon|PHI}} Criss Cross King Crunchers (2024–present)
Awards
= Individual =
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="80%"
! style="width:25px;" rowspan="2"|Year ! style="width:50px;" rowspan="2"|League ! style="width:20px;" rowspan="2"|Season/Conference ! style="width:180px;" rowspan="2"|Award ! style="width:25px;" rowspan="2"|Ref |
| align=center
|rowspan=4|2022 | Open | Most Valuable Player (Conference) |
| align=center
| rowspan=3|V-League | rowspan=3|Collegiate | Most Valuable Player (Conference) |
| align=center
|Most Valuable Player (Finals) |
| align=center
|1st Best Outside Spiker |
| align=center
|2024 | rowspan=1 |UAAP | rowspan=1 |86 | 2nd Best Outside Spiker |{{cite web |last=Isaga |first=JR |title=UAAP greats: Belen, Ybañez earn first multiple MVP awards since Valdez, Espejo |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/awardees-bella-belen-josh-ybanez-mvp-season-86/ |access-date=May 15, 2024 |website=Rapper |date=May 15, 2024}} |
| align=center
| 2024 | 1st Best Outside Spiker |
= Collegiate =
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="80%"
! style="width:25px;" rowspan="2"|Year ! style="width:50px;" rowspan="2"|League ! style="width:20px;" rowspan="2"|Season/Conference ! style="width:180px;" rowspan="2"|Title ! style="width:25px;" rowspan="2"|Ref |
| align=center
| 2019 | rowspan=3|UAAP | 81 |style="background:gold" | Champions |
| align=center
| 2023 | 85 |style="background:gold" | Champions |
| align=center
| 2024 | 86 |style="background:gold" | Champions |
=Clubs=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="80%"
! style="width:25px;" rowspan="2"|Year ! style="width:50px;" rowspan="2"|League ! style="width:20px;" rowspan="2"|Conference ! style="width:180px;" rowspan="2"|Club ! style="width:180px;" rowspan="2"|Title ! style="width:25px;" rowspan="2"|Ref |
| align=center |
| align=center
| 2019 | rowspan=5| Spikers' Turf | Open | style="background:#c96;" | 3rd Place |
| align=center
| 2022 | Open |style="background:gold" | Champions |
| align=center
| 2023 |style="background:gold" | Champions |author= |date=December 15, 2023 |website=spikersturf.ph |publisher=Spikers Turf |access-date=December 15, 2023}} |
| align=center
| 2024 | rowspan=2|Criss Cross King Crunchers |style="background:silver" | Runner-up |
| 2025
| Open |style="background:silver;" | Runner-up | |
External links
- [https://www.fivb.com/players/players-database/player/183006/ Nico Almendras] at the FIVB player database
References
{{reflist}}{{Authority control|show=volleyball player}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Almendras, Nico}}
Category:Filipino men's volleyball players
Category:Philippines international volleyball players
Category:University Athletic Association of the Philippines volleyball players
Category:National University (Philippines) alumni
Category:Volleyball players from Metro Manila