V-League: Ateneo rips Adamson to take headstart

source: RCJ, GMA News

Ateneo stamped its class at the start of its Shakey’s V-League Finals series against Season 7 second conference champion Adamson, coming away with a 25-23, 18-25, 25-20, 25-20 on Sunday at The Arena in San Juan.

Fille St. Merced Cainglet, who was earlier awarded the Most Improved Player of the Conference, played her best game in the tournament, teamed up with conference MVP and Thai import Kesinee Lithawat in leading the Lady Eagles to the win.

The Lady Eagles are now a win away from clinching their first ever V-League crown.

Cainglet scored 20 hits, a block and an ace while Lithawat topscored for the team with 15 hits, seven blocks and an ace.

The Lady Falcons fought back from a 16-23 down in the first set after scoring nine straight points, five of which coming from Ateneo’s errors to win the set.

“Bago pa lang kasi ito sa kanila," said Ateneo coach Charo Soriano.“They’re feeling the pressure so we have to make them feel and believe na kaya nila."

Cainglet actually made her presence felt all over the court as she also made eight successful digs and two blocks.

“Nag-focus lang po talaga ako sa laro ko kasi talagang gusto po naming manalo. At saka ini-offer po namin ang game na ito para sa dati naming teammate na si Mona (Bagatsing), whose mother passed away this morning," said Cainglet.

Two other Lady Eagles -- guest player Alyssa Valdez and Angeline Gervacio -- scored in double figures, posting 19 and 11 points, respectively. - RCJ, GMA News

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La Salle sweeps women’s volleyball contest, nets crown - pia

source: by Redjie Cawis

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, May 3 (PIA) - - It was a repeat performance for the 2011 National Inter-collegiate Volleyball women’s division championship. De La Salle University Lady Green Archers(DLSU) and the University of the Cordilleras Lady Jaguars again faced off with DLSU taking only 45 minutes to seal their second crown in two years in their game at the Benguet Provincial Capitol Gym last week.

The undefeated Green Archers, the reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball titlist, made their way to the top by beating the Saint Louis University Navigators in the semi-final round and eliminating AMA Computer University earlier.

While the Baguio – Benguet Educational Athletic League champions UC Lady Jaguars also disposed SLU and the Holy Angel University , they did not stop the DLSU as they landed in the second spot to face off the DLSU in the championship round.

During the awarding ceremony at the Benguet Capitol, the DLSU garnered five individual awards to complete the lady’s volleyball mythical team.

DLSU’s Charlene Cruz bagged the most valuable player crown while fellow Lady Archers Melissa Gohing is best libero, Michelle Gumabao for best attacker, and Kim Fajardo is the best setter and coach Ramil De Jesus took the best coach award.

University of the Cordilleras Jhiesel Agudia and Mary Ann Biay bagged the best blocker and best receiver awards respectively while AMA Computer University’s Janice Mary Chu took the best server award.


Philippine Volleyball Federation president Gener Dungo expressed his thanks to the officials and the people of Benguet for hosting this years’ tournament. He hopes that Baguio City and Benguet will be the home of the National Inter-collegiate Championship since it has been held here for the past three years now.

The activity is an annual volleyball championship of the PVF that is part of the grass-roots development program aimed to create opportunity for students to showcase and enhance their volleyball skills and abilities. It will also give way for talent identification to be considered in the National Youth Volleyball Team. (RC-PIA CAR)

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NU spikers make milestone, reach Final Four of V-League (GMAnews)

source: GMA News

National University survived the hard-fighting Far Eastern University in a thrilling five-setter, 25-21, 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 15-13, for their first-ever Final Four entry in the Shakey’s V-League Season 8 first conference quarterfinals at The Arena in San Juan on Sunday.

The Lady Bulldogs secured the last semifinals berth when they scored during the match point. The Lady Tamaraws failed to return the ball after Maricar Nepomuceno’s service. It was the second straight loss for FEU in the quarterfinal stage, thus booting the team out of the race.

NU joined University of University of St. La Salle in the Final Four along with Group A topnotcher Ateneo. The last semis slot in the group is being disputed by Perpetual Help, Lyceum and last season’s second conference champion Adamson.

Behind the combined efforts of Vargas, team captain Irish Morada and guest player Rachel Anne Daquis, the Lady Tamaraws were able to recover from two sets down earlier and forced a fifth and deciding set.

Vargas and Daquis scored 23 and 20 points, respectively while Morada added 18 for the Lady Tamaraws, who had more hits than the Lady Bulldogs, 53-47, and came through with more blocks, 16-12.

But the Lady Bulldogs pounced on their rivals’ errors, scoring 44 points while yielding 31 from their miscues. NU also wound up with 89 excellent digs and 81 sets as against FEU’s 80 and 78, respectively.

Guest player Denise Santiago topscored for the Lady Bulldogs with 18 points, including 12 hits and five blocks, while former Lady Tamaraws Vivas and Monique Tiangco added 15 and 10 points, respectively.

Nepomuceno also scored in double figure for NU with 13 points. - RCJ, GMA News

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Lady Archers favored in Inter-Collegiate

source: journal.com.ph

REIGNING UAAP champion La Salle begins its title retention bid in the women’s division of the National Inter-Collegiate volleyball championship that kicks off tomorrow in Baguio City.

This will be the Lady Archers’ first tournament since sweeping University of Santo Tomas in the Season 73 finals of the UAAP last February.






Except for Stephanie Mercado, La Salle’s roster remains intact for the week-long event organized by the Philippine Volleyball Federation.

Veterans Jacq Alarca, Cha Cruz, Abigail Maraño, Michelle Gumabao, Mika Esperanza and libero Melissa Gohing will lead the Lady Archers’ campaign.

Blue-chip rookies Carol Cerveza, Camille and Cienna Cruz will also suit up for La Salle along with Team B players Wensh Tiu, Kim Fajardo and Rochelle Sison.

With some UAAP and NCAA squads tied up with their commitments in the first conference of Shakey’s V-League, the Lady Archers are heavily favored to win it all.

Aside from La Salle, other UAAP teams which ruled the recent inter-collegiate editions are UST (2008) and Ateneo (2009).

Rizal Technological University also stakes its hold of the men’s division crown in the event, which Baguio City is hosting for the third straight year.    (Theodore P. Jurado)

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Southwestern upsets San Sebastian in V-League volleyball tourney

source: By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines— A couple of firsts transpired in the Shakey’s V-League on Tuesday—one an amazing upset, the other a controversial loss by forfeiture.

Cebu-based Southwestern University pulled off a feat no other provincial team has fashioned out before: Beat powerhouse San Sebastian.

Almost lost in the din of Southwestern’s stunning upset was Adamson’s defeat by forfeiture to Perpetual Help earlier, marking the first time in the league that such an incident happened.

The Falcons prevailed, 25-20, 25-15, 25-19, but league commissioner Tonyboy Liao had already declared the Lady Altas the winner after Adamson coach Dulce Pante sent in an ineligible player in Faye Guevarra in the second set.

The Lady Cobras from Southwestern neutralized the San Sebastian Lady Stags’ power and produced a superb attacking game late in the fourth set on their way to a 24-26, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20 win in the First Conference of Season 8 at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Erika Camille Verano poured 18 points, 14 off kills, while Danika Yolanda Gendrauli contributed 17 as the Lady Cobras improved to 2-1, after dropping their first match against Lyceum.

Playing their first game of the tournament, the Lady Stags looked rusty despite the presence of former national team standout Cherry Macatangay and Suzanne Roces.

“We saw San Sebastian’s weakness in their floor defense,” said SWU coach Jordan Paca. “They did not know where we were going to put the ball.”

Paca added: “We’re happy that the fans in Metro Manila are appreciating the provincial team’s performances.”

Perpetual found itself as the unlikely leader in Group B with a 2-0 record, while Adamson fell to 1-1.
The crowd actually had no inkling that Perpetual had already won as the match reached the third set.
Liao said Adamson exceeded the number of guest players with three by sending in Guevarra. The player was not part of the Falcons’ lineup in the UAAP.

Adamson already had two guest players in former collegiate stars Michelle Laborte and Neriza Bautista. A special provision in the league allows three guest players in the squad, provided they are all students.

Pante said the league should have at least informed them of the violation when the lineups of the schools were submitted.

“The rule was not clarified,” said Pante, who has steered the Lady Falcons to two V-League crowns, including last season’s second conference.

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Lady Stags debut vs Cobras in V-League

source: (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian finally gets to strut its wares in the eighth Shakey’s V-League as it squares off with Southwestern University in a Group A match at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City today.

Adamson and Perpetual Help, meanwhile, dispute the solo lead in Group B as they slug it out in the 2 p.m. match of another exciting twinbill in the first conference of the country’s premier women’s volley league.

Led by guest player and former star Suzanne Roces, SSC is seeing action only for the first time since the league opened shop last April 3 with the Lady Stags raring to get going on a team built around two-time NCAA MVP Joy Benito, Elaine Cruz, Bonsai Mirasol, Bamcie Belen and libero Mae Crisostomo.
SSC, still in search of a second title after scoring a breakthrough win in the 2008 second conference, is out to improve on its back-to-back runner-up finishes last year.

But the Lady Cobras will be out to spoil their debut with the reigning CESAFI champions hoping to ride on their 27-29, 30-28, 25-21, 19-25, 15-13 victory over the FEU Lady Tams last Thursday that evened their card at 1-1.

The Adamson-Perpetual Help match is also a toss-up with two title contenders in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.

“I expect an exciting match-up against Adamson, especially on floor defense. But we will try to sustain our good start,” said Pepetual Help coach Mike Rafael.

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Ateneo, Lyceum tossers dispute lead

source: philstar.com


Manila, Philippines - Ateneo and Lyceum clash today for the solo lead in Group A while National U and University of St. La Salle-Bacolod dispute third place in Group B as action in the eighth Shakey’s V-League first conference resumes at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Eagles, seeking their first championship in the league, opened their campaign with a straight-set victory over the FEU Lady Tamaraws last week but face a tougher assignment this time in the Lady Pirates, who also launched their title drive with a 3-1 win over Southwestern U last Tuesday.

The winner in the 4 p.m. match will seize the solo lead in their division with Ateneo tipped to bank again on guest player Alysa Valdez, Thai import Kesinee Lithawat, Fille Cainglet, Gretchen Ho, Denise Acevedo and Jamenea Ferrer, who combined for 51 points the first time out.

But they would need more than that against the Pirates, who are looking good with former two-time MVP Mary Jean Balse, Joy Cases, Dahlia Cruz, Jamie Peña, Marie Casanova and Ann Tabafunda in the fold.

Focus will also be on the USLS-NU duel at 2 p.m. with both teams going all out for the victory and the boost in their respective quarterfinal round bids.

With the elims just a single round robin format, every win counts with the top four teams in each group advancing to the next round of the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and organized by Sports Vision.

Adamson and Perpetual Help pace Group B with 1-0 slates.

NU bounced back from a straight-set loss to Perpetual Help with a 3-1 victory over St. Benilde with guest players Denise Santiago, Cherry Vivas and Monique Tiangco along with mainstays Maricar Nepomuceno and Rialen Sante expected to lead the Lady Bulldogs’ attack against their Bacolod-based rivals.

The Lady Stingers, behind Patty Orendain, Kay Aplasca, Charmaine Moralde, Floradele Dolar and American reinforcement Jayde Hair, scrambled past the Blazers in five sets but dropped a 0-3 setback to the Lady Falcons last Thursday.

Games can be viewed on live streaming at www.v-league.ph.

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Adamson opens V-League title defense bid with win over La Salle-Bacolod

source: gmanews.tv

Adamson University (AdU) opened its title defense bid with a straight-set 25-23, 25-15, 25-22 win over University of St. La Salle (USLS) in the Shakey's V-League Season 8 first conference on Thursday at The Arena in San Juan City.

With most of the Adamson players coming from Negros Occidental, the Lady Falcons, the Season 7 second conference champion, played loose against their visiting opponents.

"Talagang hindi nila tinodo. Kasi parang mga kapatid nila ang mga yan e (Lady Stingers). Yun lang pag medyo alanganin, tumatayo na ko at pinapaalalahanan ko sila," said AdU mentor Dulce Pante.

The Lady Stingers even led by 15-8 early in the match, before Lady Falcons team captain and Negros Occidental native Angela Benting made five straight points — including four straight service aces — to cut USLS' lead to two.

The Lady Stingers led for the last time at 21-20, then allowed Adamson's Benting and Pau Soriano to score the last five points to claim the set.

Adamson again capitalized on its height, skills and experience in the second set for a 2-0 lead.

"Hindi pa yun ang tunay na lakas ng team. Actually nag-a adjust pa lang yung dalawa (Benting and Soriano) kasi nagbi-beach volleyball ang mga yan kaya hindi nakakapag-practice," said Pante.

Benting and Soriano, Adamson's guest players this conference, are set to leave on April 17 for Indonesia to compete in a world qualifying tournament in beach volleyball.

Benting paced the Lady Falcons with 12 hits and four blocks.

In the first game, National University came back from an opening-set loss to pull off a 20-25, 25-10, 25-21, 25-23 win over College of Saint Benilde.

Four NU players, led by Maricar Nepomuceno with 16 hits and two aces, scored in double figures for the Lady Bulldogs, who bounced back from an opening game loss to University of Perpetual Help.

Guest players Dindin Santiago, Mumay Vivas and Monique Tiangco chipped in 16, 15 and 12 points each, respectively.

Vivas and Tiangco played for Far Eastern University in the last UAAP season.

"Medyo hirap sa communication ang players ko pagdating sa kung sino ang dapat kumuha ng bola. Kailangan pa ng konting adjustments kasi may mga bagong players na pumasok sa team," said coach Francis Vicente, referring to the two transferees from FEU.

The loss dropped the Lady Blazers to the cellar with a 0-2 win-loss record.

Cindy Optana and Giza Yumang tallied 12 points each, while guest player Angelie Araneta added 10 in CSB's losing cause. - KY, JVP, GMA News

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UST is UAAP overall champion anew

source: journal.com

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas received a fitting gift as it celebrates its quadricentennial year by bagging for the 38th time, the overall championship of the UNIVERSITY Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

The Growling Tigers rode on its strong showing in seven sports at the end of season 73 to extend their domination to 13 straight years, dating back in the 1998-99 season.

Tallying a total of 313 points, UST defeated season host La Salle, which placed second with 263 points. University of the Philippines totaled 221 for third place.

UST won titles in men’s badminton, women’s taekwondo, men’s table tennis, women’s judo, men’s volleyball, men’s tennis and baseball events.

The champion school will receive the general championship during the UAAP closing ceremonies Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum. The event also features the first league street dance competition.

The Growling Tigers booked second place finishes in men’s beach volleyball, men’s swimming, men’s taekwondo, men’s judo, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s chess, women’s athletics, men’s and women’s football, while clinching third place honors in the women’s basketball, women’s table tennis, men’s fencing, men’s athletics and softball events.

The victories by other UST sports teams somehow filled in the spot of its seventh place finish in seniors basketball.

The Green Archers emerged victorious in women’s volleyball, women’s tennis, women’s chess and men’s taekwondo.

La Salle took runner-up honors in women’s badminton, women’s beach volleyball, men’s table tennis, women’s table tennis, men’s tennis and women’s fencing, while placing third in the women’s swimming, women’s taekwondo, men’s and women’s judo, men’s and women’s football.

The Fighting Maroons swept the men’s and women’s swimming championship, and also ruled the men’s football and men’s fencing events, respectively.

UP finished second in women’s judo and wound up third in men’s taekwondo, men’s volleyball and women’s tennis events.

Far Eastern University, a perennial contender for the overall crown, could only muster 219 points for fourth spot.

The Tamaraws topped the men’s beach volleyball, women’s badminton, women’s table tennis, men’s chess and women’s football events, while settling for the runner-up honors in seniors basketball, women’s basketball, women’s taekwondo, and men’s volleyball.

The Morayta-based athletes took third place in women’s beach volleyball, men’s table tennis and women’s chess.

FEU has no entries in swimming, judo, baseball, softball and tennis events.

Despite completing a three-peat in seniors basketball and men’s judo, Ateneo could only finish fifth with 206 points.

The Blue Eagles settled for runner-up finishes in men’s badminton, women’s swimming, women’s tennis and men’s fencing, while bagging third place in men’s swimming, men’s tennis and women’s fencing.

At no. 6 is University of the East, which has 148 points, highlighted by the women’s fencing team’s three-peat.

The Red Warriors placed second in women’s badminton, men’s athletics and softball, while their women’s athletics team went home third.

In seventh place is Adamson with 115 points with victories coming from women’s basketball, women’s beach volleyball and softball.

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UST teams hope to win UAAP volley crowns in schools' quadricentennial

 source:GMA News


The University of Santo Tomas Tigers and Tigresses, the school’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams, are hoping to win the UAAP volleyball crowns as a gift to the school’s quadricentennial celebration.

“That’s what we are aiming to do. We want to win both the men’s and women’s volleyball titles for the school since it will be memorable for us with UST celebrating its 400th anniversary," said Tigresses coach Cesael Delos Santos.

The Tigresses will face the La Salle Green Archers on Wednesday at the start of their best-of-three title showdown at 3 p.m. The UST Tigers will also begin its title bid against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws at 1 p.m.

Delos Santos wants his wards to focus on defense, particularly on their blocking and reception, to stay in the hunt for their target back-to-back plum.

“The players really stuck with each other during that game. We just couldn't get it done. We need to increase our intensity in our bid for the championship," said Delos Santos.

“We’re not thinking of our two losses against La Salle in the elimination round. We had the chance to beat them in our last game, but lost our focus in the game. We just need to focus on our defense."

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UST spikers to bank on experience vs FEU in UAAP finals

source:GMA News


Defending champion University of Santo Tomas will use its experience as it clashes with Far Eastern University in the UAAP men’s volleyball championship beginning this Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan.

Game 1 is set at 1 p.m. right before the women’s championship series between UST and La Salle at 3 p.m.

“Sometimes, when we are struggling, we just find a way to catch up on our plays," UST coach Emil Lontoc said.

The Tigers showed their experience to the hilt when they handed FEU its only defeat right on the final day of the elimination round after racking up 13 wins.

UST also got a scare as it was pushed to the limit by La Salle before the taking the win in five sets, 23-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-16, 15-8, last Saturday.

Lontoc said that his players will also rely on their blocking, something that was evident against La Salle.

“We were really off in the first two sets against La Salle, but our blocking got effective in the third and fourth set. They got their timing back," Lontoc said.

Meanwhile, the FEU camp feels ready to get over its only loss, especially after clinching the finals against University of the Philippines via a two-game sweep last week.

“We really got challenged because of the loss. We learned a lot and I’m sure we are going to use that in the finals," said FEU coach George Pascua, in his sixth year with the team.
Rodolfo Labrador and Nestor Molate, FEU’s top scorers, will be up against UST’s John Paul Torres, Jayson Ramos and Henry Pecana, who played a pivotal role against La Salle in the Final Four.

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La Salle outlasts UST in UAAP women's volleyball

source: gmanews.tv

La Salle bucked a University of Santo Tomas second-set comeback to eke out a 25-20, 25-27, 18-25, 25-22, 15-12 win Sunday in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the packed The Arena in San Juan.


The Lady Archers relied on Cha Cruz and Stephanie Mercado to take the final two sets, allowing the Taft-based spikers to improve to a 13-1 record on their way to the Final Four.

Cruz had 17 points while Mercado added 15 markers as La Salle kept its poise against the resilient Tigresses, who fought back from a 12-19 deficit in the second to win the set in a tiebreak.

That energized UST as it also took the third set, 25-18, and looked headed for the win.

But Cruz and Mercado took over the final two sets in the no-bearing game that was an entertaining rematch of last season’s championship series.

La Salle broke free from a 10-10 deadlock, with Stephanie Mercado scoring twice and Michelle Gumabao finishing the game with a kill.
Aiza Maizo had 20 points while Judy Caballejo contributed 17 markers for UST, which slipped to 10-4. But the Tigresses still hold a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four over Adamson on Wednesday.

In the second game, Adamson solidified its hold on third spot, defeating Ateneo, 25-14, 25-21, 25-16.

Angela Benting finished with 19 points while Ma. Paulina Soriano added 12 points as the Lady Falcons took their ninth victory in 14 games.

“I’m happy that Angela and Pau brought their A-grade games," Adamson coach Dulce Pante said.
The Lady Eagles, who dropped to 8-6, will face La Salle in the semifinal round with the Lady Archers carrying a twice-to-beat advantage.

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DLSU beats UST in UAAP women’s volleyball Sweeps first round of eliminations

source: By Celest Flores
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Quick and easy.

De La Salle University made a suprisingly short work of the University of Santo Tomas, 25-20, 25-19, 25-12, and swept the first round of eliminations for the second straight season Wednesday in the 73rd UAAP Women's Volleyball Tournament at the Arena.

Stephanie Mercado, Abigail Maraño and Michelle Gumabao forefronted the furious La Salle attack that exposed UST's long list of weaknesses.

The trio combined for 36 points for the Lady Spikers, who never relinquished their control and lead by as many as 11 in the first and third sets.

"We really focused on our defense. We really prepared and studied UST but I didn't expect it to end this quick," said De La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus.

The Tigresses looked befuddled all game long, with useless miscues and dismal defense court keying in their doom.
"We weren't able to play our game. I don't want to blame it on the injuries, but it was hard playing hurt," said UST head coach Shaq Delos Santos.

Santos said that leading scorer Aiza Maizo, who still finished with 16 makers, is still bothered by her right ankle sprain while Maica Ortiz and Maru Banaticla are suffering from lower back injuries.
Maizo drew measly support from her teammates with usual scorers like Ortiz and Banaticla only finishing with five and two points respectively.

“At least we saw with this loss the things we really need to work on and how far behind the team is even if it's just one loss,” Santos added.

Last season, it was also La Salle who dealt UST its first loss in the opening round.

The Lady Spikers even went on to win the next six games before the Tigresses thwarted them in the last game of the eliminations and swept them in the finals.

"It was also like this last year, but we're really trying to prevent that from happening again.
In the opener, the struggling Far Eastern U ended the first round in a winning note as it escaped University of the Philippines, 23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 19-25, 15-8, for its first victory.

Reeling from lack of experience with a squad made of up mostly newcomers, veteran Mecaila Morada came to the Lady Tamaraws' defense and finished with a game-high 23 points on 21 attacks.
The Lady Tamaraws even led 2-1 after yielding the opening set, but the Lady Maroons refused to go away by bagging the fourth set.

While La Salle claims solo first place with 7-0 and UST drops to second with 6-1, UP and FEU share the cellar with 1-6 record.

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