Czarina Faith Abuso

Emilio Daez, Sean Tristan, Reign Parani share takeaways from lead roles in 'Love At First Spike'

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Love At First Spike marks a major milestone for Kapamilya stars Emilio Daez and Reign Parani as they take on their first lead roles in a series, while Sean Tristan returns to the spotlight in another meaningful lead performance. The trio shared their personal takeaways from filming the inclusive and youth-driven digi-series.</p><p>During the media conference and preview, the lead cast opened up about the impact of portraying characters that spotlight inclusivity, LGBTQIA+ representation, and the vibrant volleyball and sports community.</p><p>“This is my first lead role in a series. After almost a decade po in the industry, I&#x27;ve waited so long, honestly. It&#x27;s really really big for me po talaga. It means so much. Lalo na po na, I really play volleyball before since elementary,” Reign shared with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/4/23/exclusive-inigo-pascual-on-doing-heavy-drama-for-the-first-time-kinakabahan-ako-0941"><strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750504177268Reign-Parani.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>Reign, who plays Farrah Salcedo, the outgoing captain of a girls&#x27; volleyball team, said the role helped her grow into a more responsible ally to the LGBTQIA+ community.</p><p>“It&#x27;s much more than learning what other people want to be called or the definition of being an ally or the LGBTQI+ community. There&#x27;s so much more po. I&#x27;ve been in the beauty pageant industry where all of them are there to give colors to whatever we do in our job. And I just want to give this to them,” Reign stated.</p><p>She went on: “I hope that we could represent all of you and that you could find this series as a comfort and I&#x27;ve learned so much with discipline. I do know how to play volleyball but that doesn&#x27;t mean my body is fully conditioned for it. So that was also one of my learnings. I really got to be with my body more along with my mind.”</p><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750504250508Love-At-First-Spike.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>Sean Tristan, who takes on the role of Jared Aragon, the men’s volleyball team captain, said the project made him appreciate the importance of trust.</p><p>“I think what I learned from this series is how trust really matters. Like I really needed to trust my director, my co-actors and especially myself. And siguro something that I discovered po is how brave I actually am, especially in being part of stories that really matter to a lot of people,” he expressed.</p><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750504312792Sean-Tristan.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>For Emilio Daez, who plays Uno Santillan—a former basketball team captain who ends up joining the volleyball team—the show is the realization of a longtime dream.</p><p>“Well, this is a dream come true for me. Because this is my first lead role ever and I&#x27;ve always dreamt of being a leading man here at ABS-CBN and in the industry. So I&#x27;m very happy and thankful and humbled to be given this opportunity,” Emilio said.</p><p>He added, “I know the amount of dedication and hard work that it needs, it takes to lead a series. So that&#x27;s something that I&#x27;ve learned and dala dala ko yan sa mga susunod pa na projects.”</p><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750504366530Emilio-Daez.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLEOp3UoGiQ/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=502&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3851288.100000024%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1011" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>In an interview with<em> TV Patrol,</em> Director Ivan Payawal revealed that the story is deeply personal, rooted in his own volleyball experience growing up.</p><p>“Ito yung sports ko noong grade school to high school ako and it’s a sport and very special to me because this is where I met my first friends where I feel very accepted,” Direk Ivan said.</p><p>As <em>Love At First Spike</em> premiered during Pride Month, Sean and Reign emphasized its significance.</p><p>“It does not treat queerness as a side story or just a punchline. It really put the queer people up front, in center and tells stories with realness and hearts and the truth,” Sean said.</p><p>“Love is for all,to empower the youth and of course to be a responsible ally. Our generation is everlasting and very influential so we should be mindful of what we put there,” Reign added.</p><div><iframe width="1099" height="627" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jrSCKiaqK4A" title="Young Kapamilya artists bida sa bagong seryeng &#x27;Love at First Spike&#x27; | TV Patrol" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Now streaming exclusively on iWantTFC as of June 20 at 8 p.m. (Philippine time), <em>Love At First Spike </em>tells a story of acceptance, second chances, and growing into your true self.</p><p>The series also features Pinoy Big Brother alum, Dylan Yturralde, Rain Celmar, Binsoy Namoca, Andi Abaya, and Sky Quizon, theater actors Lance Reblando and Jude Hinumdum, alongside industry veterans Adrian Alandy, Meryll Soriano, Gio Alvarez, and Alwyn Uytingco.</p>

<p>Emilio Daez, Sean Tristan, Reign Parani share takeaways from lead roles in 'Love At First Spike.'</p>

Emilio Daez, Sean Tristan, Reign Parani share takeaways from lead roles in 'Love At First Spike.'