UST, FEU-Diliman complete Final Four cast in UAAP Girls Volleyball

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 88 High School Girls' Volleyball Standings
**NUNS 13-1
**AdU 13-1
*FEU-D 9-5
*UST 8-6
DLSZ 7-7
UPIS 4-10
Ateneo 1-13
UE 1-13

** Twice-to-beat
*   Final Four

Matches on Saturday at the Blue Eagle Gym

9 a.m. - NUNS vs UST (Boys’ Final Four)
11 a.m. - UE vs FEU-D (Boys’ Final Four)
1 p.m. - AdU vs FEU-D (Girls’ Final Four)
3 p.m. - NUNS vs UST (Girls’ Final Four)

Far Eastern University–Diliman and University of Santo Tomas clinched the last two slots in the UAAP Season 88 High School Girls’ Volleyball Final Four after dispatching De La Salle Santiago Zobel School and University of the East in contrasting sweeps on Monday at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center in Manila.

The Lady Baby Tamaraws had to fend off the Junior Lady Spikers in the first two sets before Aleah Devosora sparked a third-set rout to secure a 25–21, 25–18, 25–7 win and book their semifinals berth. The Junior Golden Tigresses, meanwhile, held the Junior Lady Warriors to single digits in all three frames for a commanding 25–4, 25–5, 25–8 victory.

FEU-D, which wrapped up the eliminations at 9–5, will face second-seeded Adamson University (13–1), which holds a twice-to-beat advantage. UST (8–6) will need back-to-back wins over National University–Nazareth School (13–1) to reach the best-of-three Finals.

Both semifinal matches are scheduled for Saturday, December 6 at the Blue Eagle Gym. If necessary, the do-or-die games will be held on Monday, December 8 at the same Katipunan venue.

“Ito, sobrang saya namin, kasi nga ang sinabi ko sa mga bata, sa mga players ko, ang target muna namin is makapasok sa Final Four, and nakuha naman namin,” said FEU-D head coach Joanne Bunag. “Number three kami ngayon; and ito, i-se-celebrate muna namin pero bukas trabaho na naman kami for semifinals.”

Devosora scored most of her 14 points in the third set as FEU-D capitalized on DLSZ’s passing and defensive lapses, breaking a 2–2 deadlock into a 20–6 cushion.

Outside hitter Aislinn Alemaña briefly stopped the bleeding with a middle hit to make it 7–22, but Alexa Amana quickly restored order with a kill. Bernadine Boston then denied Alemaña’s next swing to end the match after one hour and four minutes.

Nigerian reinforcement MJ Udeagbala led FEU-D with 16 points built on 12 attacks and four blocks, while Devosora added 13 spikes and an ace. Joeyana Bongo came close to a double-double with nine points and seven digs.

Alemaña finished with 11 points and six excellent receptions for DLSZ, but reigning Best Libero Angel Cenizal was limited to just eight digs. The Junior Lady Spikers ended their season at 7–7, settling for fifth.

UST, meanwhile, fielded all 16 players in its 47-minute domination of UE, with all non-liberos contributing to the scoring.

Middle blocker and second-generation athlete Erin Sotto led the way with 11 points on nine attacks and two aces, while team captain Kim Rubin anchored the serving line with six aces and three spikes.

Liberos Chasliey Pepito (four excellent receptions on six attempts) and Rochelle Olaguir (eight digs out of 12 attempts) helped steady UST’s floor defense to fuel its offense.

UE ended its comeback season at 1–13 in eighth place, tallying just six total kills—four from Daisy Tomaque and two from Janella Mangahis.

Meanwhile, league leaders National University–Nazareth School and Adamson University ended their elimination campaigns in style with sweeps of Ateneo High School and the University of the Philippines Integrated School, respectively.

Diza Berayo starred in the Lady Bullpups’ 25–12, 25–11, 25–15 win over Ateneo, finishing with 11 points, seven digs, and four excellent receptions as the defending champions secured the top seed in just 59 minutes.

Jelena Dait and Ainsly Santiago scored five points apiece for the Blue Eagles, who closed their season at 1–13 in seventh.

Adamson, behind Janessa Buhay and libero Maegan Pineda, needed just one hour and one minute to dismiss UPIS, 25–15, 25–13, 25–20.

Buhay delivered 11 points on eight attacks, one block, and two aces, complementing Pineda’s double-double of 11 digs and seven excellent receptions.

UPIS, led by Nina Abad’s 11 points and Anya Callo’s nine, finished sixth with a 4–6 record.

adidas reveals new Filipinas kits

Filipinas x adidas

Fresh from fellow German brand PUMA revealing its new kits for the Philippine Football Federation, adidas has done the same for the team it supports, the Filipinas.

Released in time for the SEA Games later this month and the upcoming AFC Asian Cup in Australia a few months later, these new kits are designed to reflect the strength, spirit, and pride of the nation’s top female footballers.

The home kit is in royal blue, symbolizes the team’s power and rhythm on the pitch, while the away kit is in white, and represents renewal and purity, marking a new chapter in the Filipinas’ journey.

Present in both kits are bold red side panels for competitive fire, gold crests and stripes to honor their achievements, and a gold sun on the back—a tribute to the light and inspiration the team brings to fans and future athletes.

Each kit is crafted with adidas' lightweight AEROREADY technology, the kits have been specifically engineered to keep players dry, focused, and confident in every match.

In line with the announcement, Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez shares, "This partnership with adidas is a game-changer for Philippine football. The Filipinas have shown the world what our athletes are capable of, and with adidas’ support, we’re building the infrastructure and culture to ensure that football continues to thrive—from grassroots to the global stage."

From their end, adidas Philippines General Manager Dave Sexton says, "Football has always been part of adidas’ DNA. With the Filipinas inspiring a new generation and the sport gaining momentum nationwide, we’re investing in spaces and experiences that bring the football community together. The new kits, and our first football-only store, are all part of our commitment to growing the game in the Philippines."

In addition, fans would be able to directly help the PFF with their grassroots development activities, with a portion of the proceeds going towards nurturing the next generation of Filipina footballers.

The official unveiling of these kits coincided with the opening of the first-ever adidas Football store in Southeast Asia.  Located adjacent to the MOA Sky football facility atop the SM Mall of Asia, it is stocked with the merchandise football fans are seeking, from the kits of your favorite adidas-supported clubs/teams, in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to cleats, and even lifestyle wear and accessories.

One can also have their kits customized at the store, and whilst waiting, there is a fun kicking area to test out those new kicks.

The new 2025-2026 Filipinas kits retail for PHP 3,800 and is now available at the adidas Football store. A wider release will drop on December 15 at adidas Brand Center Glorietta, Two Parkade, Trinoma, Uptown Mall, Venice Grand Canal Mall, and BOOTCAMP Fort and BOOTCAMP Online.

Ateneo slays ghost of 4th, earns semifinal spot in women's basketball

c/o UAAP

Games on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum
8:30 a.m. - FEU-D vs UST (16U boys' stepladder semis)
10:30 a.m. - Ateneo vs NU (Women's stepladder semis)
1:30 p.m. - NU* vs DLSU (Men's final four)
4:30 p.m. - UP* vs UST (Men's final four)
*Twice-to-beat

Ateneo de Manila University delivered a decisive fourth-quarter rally to eliminate Adamson University, 66-56, and advance to the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball stepladder semifinals on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

After three consecutive fourth-place finishes, the Blue Eagles are finally assured of a podium spot.

Up next for Ateneo is defending champion and No. 2 seed National University in another knockout stepladder semifinal at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Blue Eagles, who last reached the Finals in Season 78 (2015) dropped both elimination-round meetings to the Lady Bulldogs, 79-83 in the first round and 47-69 in the second.

University of Santo Tomas awaits in the Finals after completing a perfect 14-0 sweep of the eliminations.

“Gusto ko lang din mapatunayan sa NU na hindi lang sila ‘yung kaya makipagcompete sa ganoong level pero kami rin. We just pray for that win,” said Kacey Dela Rosa regarding their upcoming matchup against NU.

After years of heartbreaking fourth-place finishes, Dela Rosa is hungrier than ever to finally reach the Finals.

Leading by just six entering the final frame, the Blue Eagles opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 blitz to build a 17-point lead with six minutes left, 65-48.

Dela Rosa teamed up with Kate Cancio, Camille Malagar, and Kai Oani during the run that left the Lady Falcons reeling.

Adamson’s first basket of the fourth quarter came at the 4:24 mark on an Elaine Etang fastbreak layup off a steal.

“Adamson made a run but our defense held up. That’s what we talk about. We really admire Adamson, we learn a lot of things from them. They’re a very tough and scrappy team. Today, with God’s help we were able to pull through,” said Ateneo head coach LA Mumar, whose squad rebounded after two straight losses to end the eliminations.

Dela Rosa anchored Ateneo with 17 points, 20 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal.

Oani and Malagar added 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Sarah Makanjuola produced nine points, 16 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks—though her seven turnovers remain a point of concern.

Etang led Adamson with 18 points, six assists, four rebounds, and three steals, while Kemi Adeshina chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds.

Cris Padilla, Kat Agojo, and Angela Alaba played their final game in an Adamson uniform.

The Lady Falcons finished in fourth place after stringing together three straight wins to close the eliminations and secure the final berth in the Final Four.

The Scores:

Ateneo (66) - Dela Rosa 17, Oani 13, Malagar 12, Makanjuola 9, Cancio 7, Lopez 3, Villacruz 3, De Luna 2, Batongbakal 1.

AdU (56) - Etang 18, Adeshina 10, Apag 9, Limbago 5, Ornopia 4, Padilla 3, Bajo 3, Meniano 2, E. Alaba 2, Agojo 0, A. Alaba 0, Muñoz 0, Mazo 0.

Quarterscores: 20-14, 32-31, 54-48, 66-56.

Tiger Sands complete elimination round sweep

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Beach Volleyball Standings

Women
*UST 7-0
*NU 6-1
*FEU 5-2
*UP 4-3
Ateneo 3-4
AdU 2-5
DLSU 1-6
UE 0-7

Men
*UST 7-0
*NU 6-1
*FEU 4-3
*Ateneo 4-3
AdU 3-4
UP 2-5
DLSU 2-5
UE 0-7
*Final Four

Games Sunday at the Sands SM By The Bay
8 a.m. – UST vs Ateneo (Men Final Four)
8:45 a.m. – NU vs FEU (Men Final Four)
9 a.m. – UST vs UP (Women Final Four)
9:45 a.m. – NU vs FEU (Women Final Four)
2 p.m. – Men Battle for 3rd
2:45 p.m. – Women Battle for 3rd
3:30 p.m. – Men Final
4:15 p.m. – Women Final

University of Santo Tomas completed a seven-match sweep of the eliminations as Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella went all out in the second set to overpower National University’s Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa, 21-14, 21-6, in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women's Beach Volleyball Tournament Saturday at Sands SM By The Bay.

Determined to reclaim the throne they surrendered to the Lady Bulldogs last year, the Tiger Sands broke away from a 3-3 deadlock in the second set, scoring 18 of the match’s final 21 points to cap a perfect eliminations campaign.

UST now gears up for a Final Four clash against No. 4 University of the Philippines, making a comeback after missing out last season.

In the do-or-die matchup for the last Final Four spot, Jum Gayo and Kryssia Ornos outlasted Ateneo’s Gry Matibag and Liz Lomocso, 21-9, 9-21, 15-8.

Far Eastern University, which will face NU in the other Final Four pairing, closed the eliminations on a high note as Melody Pons and Lovely Lopez dispatched Adamson University’s Shai Nitura and Lana Barrera, 21-12, 21-16.

The Lady Bulldogs finished with a 6-1 record, while the Lady Tamaraws claimed third place at 5-2. The Fighting Maroons bounced back from consecutive losses on Friday to secure fourth at 4-3.

The women’s semifinals are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. today, with the third-place match at 2:45 p.m. and the one-match championship at 4:15 p.m.

The Blue Eagles, after losing two straight, missed out on a Final Four berth, ending fifth at 3-4, while the Lady Falcons, last season’s fourth placers, slipped to sixth at 2-5.

De La Salle’s Mica Buis and Sophia Sindayen saved the best for last by defeating University of the East’s Van Bangayan and Smile Iquio, 21-12, 21-13, in another women’s match.

UST’s seven-peat bid in the men’s division remained alive as former MVPs Alche Gupiteo and Dom Gabito edged NU’s Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino, 18-21, 21-17, 15-12, to complete a 7-0 sweep of the eliminations.

FEU claimed the third Final Four berth after Christian Salboro and Reynan Postorioso toppled UP’s Angelo Lipata and John Torotoro, 17-21, 21-11, 15-10.

Ateneo clinched the last spot as Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio dominated UE’s Allen Buensalida and Julian Celestial, 21-13, 21-9. Both Ateneo and FEU finished with 4-3 records, but the Tamaraws defeated the Blue Eagles in their elimination round matchup last November 22, 17-21, 21-16, 15-13.

In the men’s Final Four, Ateneo will face UST at 8:45 a.m., while FEU meets NU at 8 a.m. The men’s one-match championship is set for 3:30 p.m., with the third-place match at 2 p.m.

Adamson, missing the Final Four despite showing fight, saw Iverson Tan and Willie Hitones edge De La Salle’s Von Marata and Andre Espejo, 16-21, 21-18, 21-19, to finish fifth at 3-4. The Fighting Maroons and the Green Spikers ended up tied at 2-5 in sixth and seventh places, respectively.

UE’s women’s and men’s teams went winless in seven matches.

UST locks in postseason berth

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Standings
**NU 11-3
**UP 10-4
*UST 8-5
DLSU 7-6
FEU 6-7
Ateneo 6-7
AdU 6-8
UE 0-14
**Twice-to-beat
*Final Four

Games on Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum
7:30 a.m. – Ateneo vs DLSZ (16U)
9:30 a.m. – UST vs FEU-D (16U)
11:30 a.m. – UST vs FEU (Women)
1:30 p.m. – UST vs FEU (Men)
4:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs DLSU (Men)
7 p.m. – Ateneo vs DLSU (Women)

University of Santo Tomas stormed into the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Final Four with a massive second-half surge, toppling top-seeded National University, 80-71, on Sunday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Growling Tigers improved to 8-5, securing solo third place. This marks their second consecutive semifinals appearance after missing out for the past three seasons.

UST can clinch the third seed and set up a Final Four clash with twice-to-beat University of the Philippines if it defeats Far Eastern University on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We got that nice record in the first round then second round three losses agad. Four straight losses. Marami nang nagdududa, papasok ba itong UST na ito? Ano ba itong UST na ito joke lang ba ito? No. We’re here. Parating na kami,” said UST head coach Pido Jarencio, attending the postgame press conference for the first time this season.

With the Bulldogs leading 53-48 late in the third quarter, the Growling Tigers flipped the game on its head with an 18-2 run, taking a 66-55 lead with 8:24 remaining.

Gelo Crisostomo scored seven points in that decisive stretch, while Mark Llemit, Amiel Acido, and Kyle Paranada also contributed in the semifinals-clinching rally.

“Masasabi kong pinaghirapan talaga namin ito sa practice, si Coach Pido sobrang focused sa amin kasi ‘yun nga ‘yung NU sila ang number one eh. Kami, gusto namin manalo kasi sila ang number one gigil kami. Importante itong laro na ito sa amin kasi kapag manalo kami, pasok kami sa Final Four,” said Llemit, who finished with 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block.

Crisostomo led a balanced Growling Tigers offense with 13 points and five rebounds, while Collins Akowe added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Acido shot 3-of-4 from deep to tally 11 points, and Paranada contributed nine points, five assists, and four rebounds.

Nic Cabañero added nine points and six boards, while Forthsky Padrigao and Koji Buenaflor chipped in eight and seven points, respectively.

For NU, the loss did little to affect their top-seed status, though it snapped their five-game winning streak and concluded the elimination round with an 11-3 record.

Omar John led the Bulldogs with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while seldom-used Nath Tulabut contributed 10 points.

Head coach Jeff Napa spread minutes across 14 players in the defeat.

The Scores:

UST (80) - Crisostomo 13, Akowe 11, Llemit 11, Acido 11, Paranada 9, Cabañero 9, Padrigao 8, Buenaflor 7, Estacio 1, Laure 0, Calum 0.

NU (71) - John 12, Tulabut 10, Garcia 9, Manansala 8, Palacielo 6, Padrones 6, Dela Cruz 4, Parks 3, Figueroa 3, Jumamoy 3, Enriquez 3, Solomon 0, Reyes 0.

Quarterscores: 16-19, 37-38, 58-53, 80-71.

UAAP institutionalizes performance order for Cheerdance, joins call to wear white

c/o UAAP

The UAAP Season 88 Cheerdance Competition promises to be more than just a dazzling display of athleticism and artistry—it will also serve as a statement for integrity.

The UAAP is encouraging the community to wear white during the event on Saturday, November 29, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, in support of the league’s call: “Passion for Victory, Passion for Integrity! No to Corruption!”

The initiative aligns with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ call to wear white, a collective action against corruption and a push for accountability.

“The Cheerdance Competition is not only a showcase of skill and teamwork but also a platform to inspire values-driven action. We hope that this initiative encourages everyone in our community to stand together for integrity and hope,” said UAAP Season 88 President Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP of University of Santo Tomas.

Backed by BIC, this year’s competition will also introduce a new order of performances. Starting this season, the host university will close the show, while the rotation of previous season hosts will determine the lineup.

The University of the Philippines Pep Squad—Season 87 host—will kick off the competition, followed by the UE Pep Squad, Adamson Pep Squad, DLSU Animo Squad, Ateneo Blue Eagles, defending champion NU Pep Squad, and FEU Cheering Squad. The University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe will close the show.

“Every team will now have an equal opportunity to experience when to perform, and everyone gets the chance to go through the entire order of performance,” said UAAP Cheerdance Commissioner Paula Nunag.

The University of the Philippines Varsity Pep Squad will open with a Christmas-themed routine celebrating the country’s rich holiday traditions.

Eager to surpass their fourth-place finish last year, the University of the East Pep Squad will transport the audience to East High School, swaying to hits from the iconic Disney movie High School Musical.

The Adamson University Pep Squad, Season 87 runner-up, will take the audience along on their journey toward a breakthrough championship with a narrative-driven routine.

Paying homage to their school’s rich history in baseball—ranking as the fifth-best UAAP team in the sport with 10 championships across the seniors and juniors divisions—the De La Salle University Animo Squad will deliver a baseball-inspired routine.

The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles will perform to the tunes of the animated film Sing.

As defending champions, the National University Pep Squad will perform sixth, aiming for a second consecutive cheerdance title to further cement their dominance in the modern era of the competition.

Expected to be a jaw-dropping routine, NU will feature a ninja-inspired performance designed to showcase fast-paced stunts and a fresh approach to cheerdance artistry.

“This year talaga, since yung last year’s performance, napaka-challenging yung pinerform ng ating mga competitors, it helps us talaga since we’re motivated to create more. Kailangan din namin talunin kung ano yung mga nakita naming maganda sa kanila. ‘Yon yung pinaghandaan namin this year and to create new stuff for the competition and for the sport itself,” said NU head coach Gab Bajacan.

In an effort to reclaim the crown they lost in Season 87, the Far Eastern University Cheering Squad will take the audience on a nostalgic journey, rekindling childhood memories with a routine inspired by traditional Philippine street games such as patintero, tumbang preso, and luksong tinik.

Eight-time champion University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe will close the show with a Halloween-inspired theme.

"For the theme of UST this year, it's going to be Halloween. Just with the theme itself for UST, I can already say it's been a journey because we actually decided and needed to change our themes twice before arriving with the idea of Halloween. Nevertheless, I am really happy with how it translated to our routine this year and I believe it's one of the events in the year calendar which everyone is looking forward to," said UST head coach Mark Chaiwalla.

The UAAP Season 88 Cheerdance Competition will be available across all Cignal platforms: the UAAP Varsity Channel in HD, One Sports on free-to-air TV, and the Pilipinas Live app, which will stream the event for free.

In the lead-up to the competition, Cignal will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes content, interviews with squad members, and highlights from past performances.

“The Cheerdance Competition is one of the most anticipated traditions of the UAAP, and Cignal is excited to capture all the excitement, the artistry, and the integrity displayed by the UAAP’s best cheerdance teams,” said Mico Halili, Head of Sports Content at Cignal TV.

NU with back-to-back victories to open beach volleyball title defense

c/o UAAP

National University launched its campaign for a back-to-back collegiate women's beach volleyball title with two hard-fought victories in the UAAP Season 88 tournament, Friday at Sands SM By The Bay.

Reigning MVP Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa opened the season by narrowly defeating Far Eastern University's Melody Pons and Lovely Lopez, 21-19, 21-17.

Later, Cordero teamed up with third player Kizil Quijote and went through a tense battle before edging University of the Philippines’ Jum Gayo and Kryssia Ornos, 24-22, 21-19, to finish the day with a 2-0 record.

University of Santo Tomas’ Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella also impressed on the opening day, posting two straight victories.

Pagara and Progella dominated Adamson University's Shai Nitura and Fhei Sagaysay, 21-8, 21-12, before overwhelming Ateneo's Gry Matibag and Liz Lomocso, 21-6, 21-8, signaling a strong start to their redemption season.

The Tiger Sands, the most successful women’s beach volleyball program with nine titles, are motivated to bounce back after last year’s heartbreaking defeat to the Lady Bulldogs.

Meanwhile, Gayo and Ornos split their opening day matches after repelling De La Salle’s Mica Buis and Ela Raagas, 23-21, 21-19.

Matibag and Lomocso also went 1-1, defeating University of the East's Van Bangayan and Krisha Revilla, 21-16, 21-16.

In the men’s division, UST made a strong start in its quest for a seventh consecutive crown.

League MVPs Alche Gupiteo and Dom Gabito defeated FEU’s Christian Paul Salboro and Reynan Postorioso, 21-11, 21-18, and Adamson’s Iverson Tan and Willie Hitones, 21-12, 21-16.

NU’s Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino, last season’s runners-up, outplayed UP’s Angelo Lipata and Zedrick Calimlim, 21-17, 21-14, before completing a perfect first day with a 21-12, 21-19 victory over De La Salle’s Von Marata and Andrei Espejo.

Ateneo’s Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio topped Tan and Hitones, 21-17, 21-14, while Marata and Espejo defeated UE’s Allen Buensalida and Julian Celestial, 21-12, 21-10.

Action resumes with the men’s division at 7 a.m. Saturday, followed by the women’s matches at 10 a.m.