Air Force seeks first win in PFL against Tuloy

c/o Matchday Media

With nary a win so far in the Philippines Football League, Air Force seeks to claim it on Sunday night at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, hopeful that their matchup against Tuloy FC would bear that fruit.

Kick-off has been moved to 9:00 pm as a result of the earlier matches scheduled that day moved later due to the prevailing heat conditions in the country.

Although suffering two tough defeats to Mendiola FC 1991 and One Taguig FC, the Airmen did manage to make things difficult against a fellow league returnee in United City FC.

Jan Delariarte's header from twelve yards out allowed PAF to score their first goal of the campaign, a bright spot in their 4-1 defeat.

Serving as Air Force's foil in this Sunday's quest for an inaugural victory is a Tuloy side that has a built an impressive following with their style of play. Anchoring their offense are the duo of John Jalique and Harry Nunez, with the latter having been called up for national team duty.

Tickets for the match cost just PhP 150, whilst bleacher area seating is free of charge. Matches are streamed online, as well as on Premier Football.

Busan KCC Egis and Suwon KT Sonicboom earn EASL 2024-25 Season berths

 

L-R: Henry Kerins (CEO, EASL); Heo Hoon (player, Suwon KT Sonicboom); Moon Seong Gon (player, Suwon KT Sonicboom); Song Young Jin (Head Coach, Suwon KT Sonicboom), Chun Chang Jin (Head Coach, Busan KCC Egis), Heo Ung (player, Busan KCC Egis); Song Kyo Chang (player, Busan KCC Egis); Mark Fischer (CCO, EASL)

With the conclusion of the Korean Basketball League semifinals, we now know the first two teams comprising the East Asia Super League for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

Busan KCC Egis was the first team in after dispatching Wonju DB Promy in four games, 3-1. The other team is Suwon KT Sonicboom, who outlasted Changwon LG Sakers, 3-2.

The winner of their best-of-seven matchup, scheduled to take place on April 27 until May 9, will be placed into Group B for the upcoming EASL season. The other side is allocated into Group A.

Both EASL Chief Executive Officer Henry Kerins and Chief Commercial Officer Mark Fischer graced the KBL Finals Media Day in Seoul on Thursday to congratulate both teams for earning their qualification.

Kerins says, "The strength of the Korean Basketball League was shown when two Korean teams made it to the EASL Final Four 2024 in March. We have no doubt that Busan KCC Egis and Suwon KT Sonicboom will once again show that KBL teams are elite clubs in the Asia region, will compete for the championship in the EASL 2024-25 Season."

With two teams down, six spots remain to complete the 2024-25 field: with a couple each from the other three leagues: the B.LEAGUE in Japan, the P.LEAGUE= in Chinese-Taipei, and the Philippine Basketball Association in the Philippines.

The identities of these teams will be revealed in the next few months.

NU sneaks way into Game 1 baseball win

c/o UAAP

Game on Sunday at the UP Baseball Field

4 p.m. - DLSU vs NU (Finals Game 2) (NU leads series 1-0)

Nigel Paule guided National University to a come-from-behind 8-4 victory against back-to-back defending title-holders De La Salle University in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 Baseball Finals on Thursday at the UP Baseball Field.

The Bulldogs, who last lifted the trophy in Season 74 (2011-12), will aim to clinch the title against the Green Batters on Sunday at 4 p.m. in Game 2 of the Finals at the same Diliman venue.

With a precarious 5-4 lead they secured in the eighth inning, the left fielder delivered his second hit of the game, a left-liner that brought in Herald Tenorio and John Kiel Olazo to extend the lead.

An additional run was scored after a subsequent attempt on the final out by Gio Gorpido misfired from substitute pitcher Lord Aragorn De Vera, giving the Bulldogs a significant four-run cushion at 8-4, which they held on to for the win.

"Inisip ko lang na kailangan ko ibigay 'yung best ko today kasi kailangan naming manalo ng Game 1," said Paule, the homegrown outfielder from National University Nazareth School, reflecting on his mindset for the day.

The back-to-back champions from Taft seized an early 4-0 lead in the first two innings of the game, with De Vera, JR Samuel, and Pio Villamiel providing the offensive spark for the squad.

De Vera, the second-year infielder from Faith Catholic School, crossed the plate twice off single-base hits from Samuel in the first and Villamiel in the second, with the bottom of the order for the Green Batters, Ezy Bautista, and JM Segui, adding two more in the second.

That was all De La Salle could manage, as NU broke through in the third to fifth innings before completing the comeback in the seventh inning.

"Yung kalaban namin is championship caliber talaga, so lagi naming sinasabi sa training at sa mga conferences namin na kailangan naming sabayan 'yung kalaban. Kailangan lang huwag kaming bibigay pero ibibigay namin dapat lahat sa loob ng field," said first-year Bulldogs head coach Romar Landicho, who replaced Egay delos Reyes during the off-season, on the squad's mindset as the game progressed.

Two runs from Kenneth Maulit and Olazo in the said frame set up the comeback for the Bustillos-based side and forced Green Batters starter and reigning Finals MVP to retire to the dugout after the inning.

The pitching change in the following inning backfired on the holders, as Peter Nonaillada allowed three straight hits from Calanday and the Maulit brothers, Kevin and Kenneth, to load the bases for the Bulldogs.

Four balls from De Vera, who took over the mound from Nonaillada, sent Tenorio to first and advanced Cyril Antipolo, who ran for Calanday, home, setting up Paule's decisive hit and the eventual win.

Amiel De Guzman, on the other hand, was superb in the last seven innings of the game after a shaky start, allowing just three hits in that period and shutting down the De La Salle bats.

With a significant opportunity to end the series and the 12-year wait for NU, Landicho knew that they must prepare to give their all on Sunday.

"Yung mentality namin dapat gutom kami sa championship. Na-adapt naman na 'yun ng players at 'yun naman 'yung pinapakita ng players," the freshly tenured mentor Landicho ended.

The Lines:

TEAM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R H E

NU      0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 - 8 14 3

DLSU 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -  4 9 3

Villarreal Philippines set to host Open Clinic

Villarreal Philippines

With the increased interest in playing football sprouting in this Philippines, a LaLiga club has expressed interest in taking root.

Villarreal CF, through the Villarreal Academy international expansion project, established its first-ever official partner academy in the Philippines, going by the name Villarreal Philippines Academy.

At the end of the month, the VPA will hold its inaugural event, the Villarreal Philippines Open Clinic 2024, opening its doors to all local players. It will take place at the Alabang Country Club on April 27 and 28, as well as May 1.

To help with the event, Villarreal CF coach Alejandro “Nano” Márquez will be coming over from Spain to assist the academy in player selection for the VPA teams. Armed with a UEFA license, Márquez will help determine who will comprise teams that would have the chance to participate in international events and tournaments.

Villarreal Philippines Academy director, Mr. Eumir Siao, encourages young players in the Philippines to come along for this unique event: “This April, we invite everyone to take part in the first-ever open clinic with Villarreal CF in the Philippines. This is a breakthrough in bringing proven international methodologies in professional football to our Filipino football landscape. We are working together to improve the level of football in the Philippines through the clinics and workshops that we aim to provide. We believe that through the development of the grassroots level with proper methodology and international exposure, we are creating a pathway for the kids to reach their potential of having football as a profession.”

To register for the Open Clinic or for more information on Villarreal Philippines Academy visit: www.villarrealphilippines.com.

UP set for title defense at 2024 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup

La Salle's Kevin Quiambao, UP's Francis Lopez, San Beda's James Payosing (Photos courtesy of UAAP Media Bureau/NCAA Philippines/GMA Sports)

The 17th edition of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup is set to commence in less than a month.

All eight schools from the UAAP and all ten schools from the NCAA will participate in the 2024 edition, which will start on May 11, as each side is set to undertake their own respective preparations for their upcoming league campaigns.

Considered as among the favorites are defending champions the University of the Philippines, with JD Cagulangan and Francis Lopez set to anchor a successful title defense under Goldwin Monteverde.

Serving as the likely main foils are the respective league champions in La Salle and San Beda.

The Green Archers conquered the Fighting Maroons in the UAAP finals, with Topex Robinson still armed with a ferocious frontcourt of league MVP Kevin Quiambao, Mike Phillips, and Jonnel Policarpio.

As for the Red Lions, Yuri Escueta will still have Finals MVP James Payosing, while also integrating a bunch of transfers that will be eligible for the historic centennial season of the NCAA, led by Bryan Sajonia, formerly of Far Eastern University.

All eight UAAP teams will comprise one group, while all ten NCAA teams will comprise the other group. Teams within each group will go through a single round robin, with the top four teams advancing into the crossover playoffs.

Overseeing the tournament are its regulars: Commissioners Joe Lipa and Bert dela Rosa, tournament director Bennett Palad, media head and consultant Virgil Villavicencio, and marketing and finance head Diana Layug.

In addition, the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup will also hold the Hanes 1-on-1 King of the Hardcourt tournament.

La Salle stuns champs in UAAP Men's Volleyball

c/o UAAP

Men

*FEU 10 1

*NU 9 3

DLSU 8 3

UST 7 5

Ateneo 6 6

AdU 4 7

UE 1 10

UP 1 11

*Final Four

Games Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum

10 a.m. – DLSU vs AdU (Men)

12 noon – UE vs FEU (Men)

2 p.m. – DLSU vs AdU (Women)

4 p.m. – UE vs FEU (Women)

De La Salle University showcased immense poise in a four-set thriller to pull off a shocker, upsetting three-time defending champion National University, 25-19, 25-18, 31-33, 27-25, in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Tournament Final Four race on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Green Spikers remain in third place with an 8-3 mark as a result of their third straight win, good enough for at least a playoff for a Final Four berth. Their record is a half a game off the Bulldogs, who dropped to 9-3 with the defeat.

It came to grit and heart down the stretch as Nico Almendras tried to lift NU at 25-all in the fourth but Noel Kampton went through the block before Nathaniel Del Pilar’s smart move to send back a floating ball for the De La Salle win in two hours and 17 minutes.

The Bulldogs tried to negate that final play with a foot fault challenge at the centerline but after review, it was deemed that Vince Maglinao nor Del Pilar crossed the line.

“Gusto na namin talaga. Sabi ko nga sa kanila para hindi tayo magdoubt, ilabas niyo lahat yung gusto niyong ilaro,” said Green Spikers head coach Jose Roque.

It was as tight as ever in the fourth as NU managed to deny De La Salle the win at 28-27, calling for a block touch challenge on Almendras’ crosscourt hit that went long, which was reviewed to have a touch to stay alive.

Off-the-bench Jan Abanilla drilled a down-the-line kill before JM Ronquillo’s attack went out, allowing the Bulldogs to extend the match, 33-31.

“Yung third set is really not for us. Maraming errors and hindi siya para sa amin pero nilaban namin. Nung fourth set, same naghabol ulit kami and thank God na nakuha namin,” said Maglinao, who had 22 points and eight receptions.

Ronquillo also came up big with 19 points as well as Kampton, who posted 18 points, 22 receptions, and seven digs.

Del Pilar also breached double figures with 12 points.

La Salle hopes to match NU’s record with a victory on Wednesday against Adamson at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Almendras’ mammoth game of 22 points, 39-of-51 excellent receptions, and 12 digs went for naught.

The Bulldogs also drew 16 points from Michaelo Buddin in just three sets of play.

They will look to rebound on Saturday against Adamson as well, also at the Big Dome.

UST pounds Ateneo in women's football

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 86 Women’s Football Tournament Standings

FEU 15 points (+15)

DLSU 12 points (+14)

UP 7 points (-1)

Ateneo 4 points (-20)

UST 3 points (-8)

Men's Matches today at the UP Diliman Football Stadium

4 p.m. - UP vs UE

6:30 p.m. - UST vs FEU

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas got its breakthrough win in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Football Tournament by blanking Ateneo de Manila University 3-0 Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

Goalkeeper Lizlie Garcia led the way to secure a clean sheet, while Rica Gerona, Biancy Sy, and Gly Añonuevo provided the goals to snap their five-game losing streak this year, while also avenging its 2-0 loss to Ateneo in the first round last March 23.

Garcia performed a routine stop against Ateneo’s Angely Alferez’s penalty kick to set the tone for the Lady Booters in the first half, with the game still scoreless after teammate Jearfelyn Grace Ramos failed to open the scoring for UST by missing her penalty.

Come the second half, Gerona started UST’s goal rush in the 51st minute while Sy converted a penalty in the 68th minute and Añonuevo wrapped up the three points in the 79th minute.

The win ensured that all teams this season have earned at least one victory. The Lady Booters, though, remained bottom of the standings with three points and a minus-8 goal difference after this match.

“Nakaka-miss manalo,” said coach Aging Rubio. “Regardless sa performance namin in the previous games, at least ngayon may result na nakikita. Masaya kami na nanalo and we will continue to work hard para sa upcoming games namin para somehow kaya pa rin namin ipanalo.”

On the other hand, the Blue Eagles are still in fourth place with four points and a minus-20 goal difference. This result meant that Ateneo was officially out of the running for a ticket to the final.

Both teams will return to action this Saturday at the same venue.

Ateneo will face archrival De La Salle University at 4 p.m. while UST will go up against defending champion Far Eastern University at 6:30 p.m.