V-League: Ateneo clinches semis playoff

by KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

Games Sunday (The Arena, San Juan)

2 p.m. – Army vs Maynilad

4 p.m. – Air Force vs Navy

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo recovered from an opening set loss to repulse Philippine Navy, 13-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-19, and secure a playoff for the last semis berth in the Shakey's V-League Season 8 Open Conference Thursday at The Arena in San Juan.

Team captain Fille Cainglet and Alyssa Valdez produced another sterling performance, erupting for 21 and 17 points, respectively, as the Lady Eagles clinched their second straight win in four outings in the single-round robin quarterfinals.

Suzanne Roces and Nene Bautista drilled in 22 and 20 points, respectively, for the Lady Sailors but those were not enough to stop Ateneo’s firepower.

They dropped to 1-3.

Ateneo’s win was greatly helped b y the absence of Navy's top defender Micmic Laborte, who was advised to rest for a week after spraining her right ankle in last week's game against San Sebastian.

"Malaking factor yung pagkawala ni Laborte sa kanila," said Ateneo coach Parley Tupaz. "Bad start kami, ang sama ng reception namin. Buti unti-unting gumana sa mga next sets."

The win was a revenge of sorts for the Lady Eagles who absorbed a 25-18, 25-23, 25-21 loss to the Lady Sailors in the elims.

Angeline Gervacio also had some fine moments as she finished with 15 points, including four points from the service area, and two blocks.

Drama started to build late in the third frame as Navy almost wiped out a 24-17 deficit as it unleashed six straight points to pull itself within 23-24.

But Navy’s comeback was finally repelled when Cainglet came through with a thunderous smash.

It was almost the same script in the fourth when the Lady Sailors rallied from a 24-16 deficit and moved within 24-19. However, they failed to sustain their momentum and eventually gave up the match.

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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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V-League: Ateneo, Adamson go for the kill vs semis rivals - gmanews

source: gmanews.tv

Tournament favorites Ateneo and Adamson go for the kill against their respective semifinals rivals on Tuesday and set up a Finals showdown in the 8th Shakey’s V-League First Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

Adamson battles University of St. La Salle-Bacolod in the first game at 2 p.m. while Ateneo clashes with National University at 4 p.m.

The Lady Eagles and the Lady Falcons will try to formalize their entry by finishing off the semifinals series with a victory against their opponents and hope to arrange a rematch of the 2008 First Conference titular showdown.

The first time these two teams met in the Finals, Adamson defeated Ateneo.

“Kung makakaya naming tapusin na, pipilitin na namin para wala na kaming ibang aalalahanin, makakapaghanda pa kami ng maayos sa Finals," said Adamson coach Dulce Pante after her team won in straight sets, 25-19, 25-23, 25-22, in the opener of the best-of-three Final Four series last Thursday.

“Wala na kaming gagawing adjustment. Kung ano yung nilaro namin ngayon, ganundin ang gagawin namin sa susunod. Pero may tututukan ako ngayon,yung spike ni Mic-Mic."

Mic-Mic is none other than Laborte, one of the team’s guest players and top hitters, who only made eight points in the first game. But Laborte is still recuperating from a right arm injury which she incurred while playing beach volleyball in Indonesia late last month.

But USLS is not ready to throw the white towel.

Guest players Aiza Maizo and Jovelyn Gonzaga were given a few days to the Lady Stingers’ system. They struggled in their first game, where they combined for only 13 hits.

Also expected to make up for her conference low six points last Thursday is Patty Owrendain, the team and league’s leading scorer.

Like the Lady Stingers, the Lady Bulldogs are battling for survival. They lost 27-25, 14-25, 10-25, 19-25. But Ateneo coach Charo Soriano is not counting out NU, which is playing with nothing to lose.

“The Lady Bulldogs are resilient, they are capable of coming back in this series," said the Ateneo’s rookie mentor.

Soriano will again pin her hopes on their explosive guest players — Thai Lithawat Kesinee and Alyssa Valdez.

NU coach Francis Vicente will rely on his guest players Denise Santiago, Cherry May Vivas and Monique Tiangco in hope of salvaging a win and forcing a do-or-die match. - RCJ, GMA News

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La Salle Archers capture men's volleyball crown - sunstar

source: By Roderick Osis

DE LA Salle University stormed down second seed National University in the semis in five tough sets before finishing National College of Business and Arts in the championship round to claim the crown in the men's division at the close of the 2011 National Intercollegiate Tournament during the weekend.
Despite absorbing two losses in the quarter finals, the Archers squad pounced on NCBA to capture their first crown in the contest organized by the Philippine Volleyball Federation at the Benguet Capitol in four sets, 25-14, 26-24, 23-25, 27-25.

De La Salle earlier nipped fellow UAAP contender NU in their semis match with five grueling sets, 25-21, 25-19, 25-27, 24-26, 18-16, to march into the finals.
NCBA earlier made it to the finals after stopping Saint Dominic Savio College in their semis match, 25-19, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23.

The first runner up finish for NBCA will be their second straight year after bowing to Rizal Technological University in last year's competition while La Salle improved its third place finish from last year.

The Archers also marked the back to back victories in this year's tournament after the Lady Archers also won the championship in the distaff side.

The NU Bulldogs, meanwhile, copped third place honors by defeating SDSC, 25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 27-25, 15-8.

Individual Awards

Five Lady Archers while four other Archers bagged individual honors at the close of the tournament at the Benguet Capitol.

Charlene Cruz bagged the most valuable player crown while fellow Lady Archers Melissa Gohing (best libero), Michelle Gumabao (best attacker), and Kim Fajardo (best setter) also won individual awards while coach Ramil De Jesus took the best coach award in the women's division.

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.

The men's squad of De La Salle also netted themselves individual honors led by MVP awardee Antonio Christopher, best receiver John Dela Rosa, best setter Brendern Santos, and best coach Simfronio Acaylar.

NCBA bagged two individual awards courtesy of best attacker Salvador Timbal, and best libero Jeffrey Ken Yano while NU's Peter Denmar Torres won the best blocker plum with SDSC's Kenny Harde winning the best server award.

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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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USLS survives SWU, nears V-League semis

source: gmanews.tv

University of St. La Salle survived Southwestern University’s onslaught to win the battle of the Visayan squads, 25-15, 25-14, 22-25, 12-25, 15-9, in the Shakey’s V-League quarterfinal round on Tuesday at The Arena in San Juan.

The win shoved USLS within a win of securing a first ever semifinals berth in the league. The team can advance to the next round with a victory over Far Eastern University in its next match.

League leading scorer Patty Orendain posted a personal best 27 points, including 22 hits, four blocks and an ace in powering the Lady Stingers in beating the Lady Cobras.

“Parang ninerbiyos kasi sila after na makita yung kaibigan nila na na-injured. Ayun parang nanigas at hindi na makakilos," explained St. La Salle coach Roger Banzuela, referring to SWU’S guest player Erika Verano, who suffered a sprained left ankle after a bad fall after the match point in the second set.

With Verano being sidelined, the rest of the Lady Stingers were visibly affected.

The team lost the next two sets, but Banzuela got big games from setter April Hingpit and American guest player Jayde Hair, who stepped up in their net defense.

The Lady Stingers posted 16 blocks as against only three by the Lady Cobras. - RCJ, GMA News

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2 Visayan teams take Spotlight in V-League

source: By FRANCIS SANTIAGO

 MANILA, Philippines — University of St. La Salle-Bacolod and Southwestern University of Cebu, hoping to reach the semifinals for the first time, clash today with the winner getting an advantage towards reaching that goal at the start of the Shakey’s V-League quarterfinal round tomorrow at The Arena in San Juan City.


Game time is 4 p.m.


The top two teams from the two groups of four will advance to a best-of-three semifinals series. Both La Salle Bacolod and Southwestern are on the brink of advancing where no Visayan team has gone before.

In three stints, USLS’s best finish was fifth, while SWU was seventh on its debut last year.


In the quarterfinals, both teams are grouped with National University and Far Eastern University, which booted out reigning six-time NCAA champ San Sebastian College with a four-set win last Sunday.


The unique format has given four teams the slight edge in the quarters with Ateneo and Perpetual Help gaining identical 1-0 slates in Group A for beating groupmates Lyceum and Adamson, respectively, in the elims.


USLS and SWU also tote 1-0 marks in Group B after toppling NU and FEU, respectively, in the previous round.


Between the two teams from the South, the Lady Stingers are favored to prevail owing to their impressive 3-1 mark in the eliminations capped by a stirring come-from-behind five-set triumph against University of Perpetual Help last week.

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Bacolod tossers spoil Perpetual’s sweep bid

source: By FRANCIS SANTIAGO
mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines — What a way to close out its elimination round campaign.


In a game that will go down as one of the most memorable Shakey’s V-League matches in recent history, University of St. La Salle-Bacolod fought back from 0-2 set down to complete a stirring 23-25, 14-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-11 victory over University of Perpetual Help tuesday at The Arena in San Juan.


Former national youth stand out Patty Oredain rose to the occasion several times, scoring six points in the thrilling fifth set duel, including a down-the-line smash that sealed the victory and foiled the Lady Altas’ sweep bid in Group B.


“They played their best game,” USLS mentor Roger Banzuela said of his players who celebrated their big win by linking their hands and hugging each other on center court.


The victory sent the Lady Stingers into a tie with their victims on top with identical 3-1 records.


Due to its superior quotient, however, Perpetual will gain the No. 1 spot heading into the group quarterfinal round that starts after the Holy Week.


The Lady Stingers overhauled an 8-5 down in the final set to tie the game for the last time at 10-all before Orendain took over.


Orendain finished with a game-high 24 points, including the team’s five of the last seven points for the Bacolod-based tossers who seized the golden opportunity for a fightback in the third set.

“I fielded my second six in the third and it clicked,” said Banzuela who also credited returning libero Rebbie Delotindo, who had 21 excellent digs, for a job well done.


The Lady Altas, who drew double-digit numbers from five players, actually had the chance to sweep the Lady Stingers with a 2-0 set lead, but their inability to protect their lead at crunch time stalled their bid.


They blew a 17-21 lead in the third as the Stingers gain a new lease on life.


USLS, however, had to overcome 12 deadlocks in the fourth, the last at 22-all to force the deciding set.


Kay Aplasca had 18 points while Royce Quijano had nine for USLS which closed out the game after one hour and 48 minutes.


Returning guest player Jane Manzano and Lynn Bonecillo had 14 apiece, while Jane Diaz, Honey Tobino and Sandra Delos Santos fired 13 each for Perpetual.

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erpetual Help eyes V-League sweep of Group B

source: By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Surprise leader Perpetual Help tries to sweep Group B when it takes on Bacolod’s University of St. La Salle on Tuesday in the Shakey’s V-League Season 8 First Conference at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Gametime is 2 p.m. with the Lady Altas, who are enjoying their best start in the tournament, gunning for a fourth consecutive victory.

Adamson tries to close in on a quarterfinal berth when it collides with National U at 4.
The Lady Stingers are already assured of a quarterfinal berth but coach Roger Banzuela believes his team has more to show in the tournament.

“We’re hoping to prove that we deserve to be playing in the V-League,” said Banzuela, who has steered St. La Salle to several Prisaa titles and national intercollegiate crowns.

St. La Salle, led by former national youth player Patty Orendain and Kay Aplasca, will carry the momentum of its straight-set win over National U two weeks ago.

After a forgettable stint in the NCAA, where they were forced to forfeit several wins for violating league rules, the Lady Altas are slowly but surely finding redemption in the V-League.

Their unbeaten start was aided by a forfeiture victory over powerhouse Adamson, which likewise violated V-League rules on guest players. Perpetual Help is coming off a 25-18, 25-19, 25-19 victory over St. Benilde last week.

The Lady Falcons will be playing for the first time since the controversial loss to the Lady Altas. They were actually winning the match when it fielded a third guest player.

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Lady Stags seek first win vs Ateneo

source:
mb.com.ph


Games Sunday
2 p.m. – FEU vs Lyceum
4 p.m. – SSC vs Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines – Winless in two starts, San Sebastian tries to start winning again and stay in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth as it plays unbeaten Ateneo in the eighth Shakey’s V-League first conference at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan on Sunday.

The Lady Stags, seeking to win the crown this year after back-to-back runner-up finishes last season, got off to a wrong start, dropping a pair of 1-3 setbacks to the Southwestern U Cobras and Lyceum Pirates to find themselves on the brink of elimination.

Another loss in their 4 p.m. encounter with the Lady Eagles would put the Recoletos-based squad into a do-or-die match with Far Eastern U for the last seat in the quarters.

And Ateneo is not keen on slowing down after sweeping its first three matches in straight-set fashions with a victory over SSC completing its domination of Group A while giving the team the momentum and confidence in the next phase.

Lyceum, meanwhile, seeks to formalize its stint in the quarters as it squares off with FEU in the 2 p.m. opener.

The Lady Pirates dealt the Stags their second straight loss last Thursday, their 25-12, 17-25, 25-21, 25-15 victory putting them back into contention after their victory over the Cobras was forfeited for fielding in an ineligible player.

But with a 1-2 card, Lyceum is hopeful it can pull off another win and join Ateneo and SWU in the quarters phase of the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.

Games can be viewed live on www.v-league.ph, according to the organizing Sports Vision.
Responding well to new coach Charo Soriano, the Eagles have been impressive in their three wins with guest players Alyssa Valdez averaging 10 hits and Thai Kesinee Lithawat contributing eight points. Backing them up are mainstays Fille Cainglet, Angeline Gervacio, Jamenea Ferrer, Gretchen Ho and Denise Acevedo.

SSC, hampered by the sidelining of reigning NCAA MVP Joy Benito due to injury, will go flat out behind guest players Cherry Macatangay and Suzanne Gonzales, Elaine Cruz, Jenelyn Belen and Dafna Robinos.

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Lyceum shows steely resolve, clobbers SSC

source: By FRANCIS SANTIAGO / mb.com.ph

Games Sunday (The Arena, San Juan)
2 p.m. – FEU vs Lyceum
4 p.m. – San Sebastian vs Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines – A bad news greeted coach Emil Lontoc and the Lyceum Lady Pirates when they arrived at The Arena in San Juan on Thursday.

To their disappointment, they were informed that their first two Shakey’s V-League games were forfeited because of a player eligibility violation.

But whether they were affected by the shocking news, it hardly showed in pulling off a 25-12, 17-25, 25-21, 25-15 triumph against San Sebastian College a few hours later.

 “It’s just another adversity we have to overcome. It (forfeiture) only gave us more motivation to win and work harder,” Lontoc said in the post game interview.

With former two-time MVP Mary Jean Balse at the helm, the Lady Pirates were almost unstoppable at the net, outgunning their highly-touted rivals to show everyone that they can trade punches against anybody as long as the bout is held on the court.

The Lady Pirates lost a battle outside the court after the league found that the school fielded in an eligible player in Carla Benedicto when the Lady Pirates held off the Cobras, 21-25, 27-25, 25-16, 25-15, last April 5, sending them back to the drawing board with a 0-2 record.

But the Lady Pirates were hardly bothered and easily improved to 1-2 by thumping the SSC lasses, who hardly looked a team that finished as runner up in the past two conferences.

Save for a second set lapse, the Lady Pirates controlled the tempo of the game as they raced to a series of 10-point leads in the first set before an error, gave them the match at 25-12.

The SSC lasses, who missed the injured Analyn Benito to a left ankle injury, bounced back in the next frame behind guest player Cherry Macatangay only to fall again in the third set no thanks to their error-prone plays.

The SSC lasses failed to recover from their woeful play, committing 11 of their 23 errors in the fourth set that spelled doom for the school, which slipped to 0-2.

Balse, one of the finest products produced by University of Santo Tomas, fired 24 points, including two aces while Joy Cases and Dahlia Cruz combined for 22 hits as Lyceum kept alive its bid for a quarterfinal slot.

Ateneo and University of Perpetual Help clinched the first two slots after improving to 3-0 while SWU (3-1) also made it after benefiting from the Lyceum forfeiture.       

It was the second time three days the league forfeited a game. On Tuesday, V-League commissioner Tony Liao also forfeited Adamson University's straight-set win over Perpetual after violating a league rule on fielding a guest player.

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Ateneo, Perpetual make it to q’finals

source: malaya.com.ph

ATENEO and Perpetual Help scored straight-set victories yesterday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Shakey’s V-League eighth season at The Arena in San Juan while Southwestern University made it to the Last 8 for the first time due to forfeiture.

The Lady Eagles played just good enough to trounce the Lady Cobras 25-16, 25-15, 25-15 to move within a win of sweeping the five-team Group A eliminations.

The Lady Altas outplayed the St. Benilde Blazes 25-18, 25-19, 25-19 to match the Eagles’ 3-0 slate in Group B.

Before bowing to Ateneo, SWU notched its third win when the league established that Lyceum fielded an ineligible player in Carla Benedicto when the Lady Pirates held off the Cobras 21-25, 27-25, 25-16, 25-15 last April 5.

A transferee from UST, Benedicto was not included in the Lyceum roster in the WNCAA, making her ineligible to play for Lyceum in the V-League, which only allows each team to field two guest players. Lyceum already has Mary Jean Balse and Dahlia Cruz as reinforcements.

The forfeiture came after the league also nullified Adamson’s win over Perpetual Help last Tuesday after the Falcons used an ineligible player in Faye Guevarra.

Guest players Alyssa Valdez and Thai Lithawat Kesinee unloaded 16 hits apiece while Dzi Gervacio and Fille Cainglet added eight and six points, respectively, for the Eagles, who are seeking their first-ever championship in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.

"We have a deep bench, and it proves the versatility of the team. I made sure that I have to maximize and give opportunity to others like Aerieal (Patnongon) and Ella (de Jesus), they have their time to shine," said Ateneo coach Charo Soriano, referring to her two reserves, who combined for eight hits.

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Ateneo, Perpetual go for quarters slots

source: By FRANCIS SANTIAGO / mb.com.ph

Games Thursday (The Arena, San Juan)
2 p.m. — St. Benilde vs Perpetual Help
4 p.m. — SWU vs Ateneo
6 p.m. — Lyceum vs SSC

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo and University of Perpetual Help hope to clinch the first two quarterfinal slots when they tackle separate foes Thursday in the Shakey’s V-League Season 8 first conference at The Arena in San Juan.

With a 2-0 card, the Lady Eagles and rookie coach Charo Soriano need only a victory in the 4 p.m. Group A encounter with the Southwestern University Lady Cobras to book a spot in the next stage.
But Ateneo might be hard-pressed to achieve that goal against a provincial squad out to continue its giant-killing ways.

The Cebu-based tossers have proven they no longer deserve the underdog tag following their massive victories against Far Eastern University (3-2) last week and San Sebastian College (3-1) on Tuesday.

Getting a bonus win from a forfeited Adamson University game, the Lady Altas tote a 2-0 card and will only need a win in the 2 p.m. Group B clash opposite the winless College of St. Benilde to progress.
The Lyceum Lady Pirates and San Sebastian lasses close out the triple-header at 6 p.m. with both teams hoping to rebound from contrasting defeats.

An SWU victory won’t only deny Ateneo the quarterfinal slot but will also give the Lady Cobras a piece of the lead.

The Lady Cobras, led by the power-hitting trio of Erica Verano, Danika Gendrauli and April Aguilar, are expected to dish out the same form they produced in crushing the SSC lasses.

Behind a superb net attack coupled with unforgiving defense to Lady Cobras dumped SSC, which hardly looked a team that finished as runner up in the first two conferences.

“We’re happy that the fans in Metro Manila are appreciating the provincial team’s performances,” SWU coach Jordan Jaca said. 

“We hope we can continue our winning run.”

V-League commissioner Tony Liao forfeited Adamson’s 25-20, 25-15, 25-19 win over Perpetual after an ineligible player was fielded in the second set.

It was the first-ever forefeiture based on violation of league rules after Adamson fielded three guest players when only two are allowed.

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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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Perpetual beats Adamson in bizarre game at Shakey’s V-League

source: By Mark C. Giongco / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – The final tally had Adamson dominating, 25-20, 25-15, 25-19, but in a bizarre turn of events, it was Perpetual Help who had the last laugh.

Due to forfeiture following a violation of league rules regarding Adamson's guest players, the Lady Altas instead, came out on top, 25-0, 25-0, 25-0, Tuesday in the Shakey's V-League at the Arena in San Juan.
According to league rules, on the general rule, "each team is allowed two guest players."

The special provision for student guest players states that "teams may opt to have three, provided that all guest players are students who are enrolled in any school in the Philippines for the school year 2010-11."

"A combination of both [special and general rule] will not be allowed."

The Lady Falcons have two guest players in Nerissa Bautista and Michelle Laborte, which is still in accordance with the ruling.

The violation came though, when the third, Faye Guevarra was fielded in the second set.
League commissioner Tony Boy Liao notified Adamson coach Dulce Pante of the technicality at the start of the ensuing set.

Pante shook it off after the match but was visibly upset.

"It's okay, walang kaso sakin [it’s no problem with me]," said Pante. "But why didn't they [the league] screen the line-ups beforehand."

"I thought a team can have one student guest player along with two guest players," added Pante.
Perpetual Help upped its record to 2-0 while Adamson dropped to third place at 1-1.

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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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V-League: SWU turns back FEU in 5-setter

source: (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Southwestern University scrambled past Far Eastern U in a marathon five-setter, hacking out a 27-29, 30-28, 25-21, 19-25, 15-13 victory to wheel back into contention in the eighth Shakey’s V-League first conference at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan late Thursday.

Princess Pido and Danika Gendrauli delivered the last two points in a down-to-the-wire fifth set to snatch the victory for the Lady Cobras, who bounced back from their opening game setback to the Lyceum Lady Pirates last Tuesday.

“We needed the win since another loss would’ve dashed our hopes,” said SWU coach Jordan Paca, also citing the crowd factor that continued to affect their game.

But the reigning CESAFI champions bucked the pressure and a tough FEU side as they eked out the victory in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Accel as official outfitter and Mikasa as official ball.

Pido wound up with 20 hits, including 15 kills, while Gendrauli fired 19 attacks for the Lady Cobras, who also drew 11 points from Danalie Baquiro and eight hits apiece from Rapril Aguilar and guest player Erika Verano.

Rosemarie Vargas scored a game-high 25 hits that went down the drain as the Lady Tams took their second straight loss in Group A after dropping a straight-set game to fancied Ateneo.

The two teams split the extended first two sets with FEU taking the first frame highlighted by seven deadlocks and SWU battling back in the next on a winning attack by Aguilar.

SWU went ahead with a four-point win in the third set but FEU, behind Vargas, Kathlene Magsumbol and guest players Rachel Daquis and Wenneth Eulalio, fought back to send the match into a deciding fifth set.

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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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