Alas Pilipinas bets fall short in Asian Beach Qualifying

c/o AVC / PNVF

Hopes for an additional team into the main draw for the Philippines in the Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships went up in smoke on Tuesday, as both Alas Pilipinas duos were eliminated in qualifying action at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa.

Represented by Ronniel Rosales and Edwin Tolentino, they bowed out to their Iranian opposition in Salemiinjehboroun Bahman and Khakizadeh Abolhassan, 8-21 10-21.

On the women's side, Alexa Polidario and Jen Gaviola fell short against Kaize Josephine Selvina Anasthasya and Melinda Novita Sari Devi of Indonesia, 21-23 15-21.

Alas Pilipinas will have to make do with their respective pairs already seeded into the competition: Ran Abdilla and James Buytrago as well as Rancel Varga and Lerry John Francisco on the men's side, and Khylem Progella and Sofia Pagara, as well as Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor.

Fifteen teams had to be whittled down to four teams to complete the men's draw, while it was a battle for seven teams to be reduced to also four in the distaff side. Both divisions will have 24 pairs split into six pools of four teams each.

Action is set to get underway at 8am.

Progella, Pagara seek redemption in Asian seniors beach volleyball in Nuvali

ALAS PILIPINAS’ Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara look to showcase their vastly improved partnership as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) brings the Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships to the Nuvali Sand Courts in the City of Santa Rosa starting on Wednesday. 

The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Sands stalwarts seek redemption at Nuvali, site of their Philippine national team debut last year in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge in December last year.

With a boost in morale from a sterling performance in tough overseas play—they underscored their fine form with a final eight appearance in 2024 FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in China just two months ago—Progella and Pagara are set to put on a show for the home crowd along with five other Philippine team pairs in the tournament backed by Nuvali, Ayala Land, Rebisco, Smart, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, City of Santa Rosa, Mikasa, Senoh, Asics, Akari, Sip, Cignal, One Sports, One Sports Plus, Pilipinas Live and the Asian Volleyball Confederation and PNVF, both headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

The Air Force pair of Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda also eye podium spots after reaching the Round of 16 of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali in April and winning one of three matches in the Qingdao leg in September.

Philippine Army’s Alexa Polidario and the Coast Guard’s Jenny Gaviola are among the seven pairs battling it out for the remaining four spots in the 24-team main draw.

Nuvali Open champions Stefanie Fejes and Jana Milutinovic of Australia lead the favorites in the women’s side. Australia’s Jasmine Fleming is also back after a runner-up finish with Georgia Johnson in Santa Rosa, but will now compete with Elizabeth Alchin.

Alas Pilipinas Brach Volleyball new guy Lerry John Francisco, meanwhile, is determined to prove his worth as he makes his international debut with the national squad.

The 6-foot-1 Francisco is eager to deliver for flag and country while hoping to play to the standard of partner Rancel Varga when they battle some of the best teams in Asia and Oceania in the five-day tournament.

“I will do everything I can, I will play my best and try to execute during the tournament everything I learned in practice,” the 26-year-old Francisco said, noting the pressure and excitement of teaming up with one of the most established young players in the country will fuel his drive to perform well.

“He’s done quite a lot at the age of 24,” Francisco said of Varga, twice MVP in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines while at UST Tomas and silver medalist with Alas Pilipinas in the 2024 FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures alongside James Buytrago.

“There’s pressure on me to perform, and I embrace it,” he said.

An Alas Pilipinas recruit following fine performances with the Coast Guard in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League and a local domestic commercial volleyball series, Francisco is also keen to repay Alas Pilipinas coaches’ trust — and Varga’s patience in training — as he plays in his first international tournament.

“It feels great to be given the chance to show what I can do, on a big stage like this, so I am seizing the opportunity,” Francisco added. 

Also expected to shine in the 35-teams men’s competition are Buytrago and Ran Abdilla, two players from the four-man men’s beach volleyball team that bagged the bronze medal in the Southeast Asian Games last year in Cambodia.

Abdilla and Butrago are among the 20 seeded pairs, with 15 other tandems battling in the qualifying rounds for the remaining four spots in the main draw.

Among those looking to enter the main draw are former Perpetual Help player Ronniel Rosales and Edwin Tolentino from the National University.

Iran’s Abbas Pourasgari and Alireza Aghajanighasab seek another top podium finish after their romp in the AVC Beach Tour Nuvali Open in April, while three tandems from Australia and two from New Zealand are also already in the main draw.

EASL set to host inaugural Clash of Champions Manila

Clash of Champions Manila

The Philippines will host another special doubleheader for the East Asia Super League.

After holding its kickoff event at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the league moves to the PhilSports Arena in Pasig for its "Clash of Champions Manila" on November 13.

Opening things up is the San Miguel Beermen against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots. The Treveon Graham-led P.LEAGUE+ side is fresh from a shock 91-70 beatdown of the Suwon KT Sonic Boom last October 23. That is the same Korean Basketball League side that kicked off this season with an 87-81 victory over the Beermen.

San Miguel hopes to make it a chaotic Group A with the victory, as it would bunch these three teams together behind the currently undefeated Hiroshima Dragonflies.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Meralco Bolts will tangle against Busan KCC Egis at 810pm.

Led by Deonte Burton, the KBL champions will be fresh from their season debut in Macau against the Black Bears, while the Bolts are hoping to lock in their second victory of the campaign after splitting their first couple of assignments.

Tickets for this doubleheader are already available through TicketMAX, while taking care of the local broadcast rights is Cignal, which is set to show the game through its myriad of channels across mediums.

Tamaraws score six against winless Adamson

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 87 Men’s Football Standings

Ateneo 18 points (+12) 

FEU 13 points (+12) 

UP 13 points (+8) 

UST 12 points (+1) 

DLSU 7 points (-5) 

UE 7 points (-8) 

ADU 0 points (-20)

Men's Football Matches on Thursday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium) 

4 p.m. – AdU vs Ateneo

6:30 p.m. – FEU vs UE

FAR EASTERN University subdued struggling Adamson University, 6-0, to open its second round of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football tournament on a winning note on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.

The Tamaraws drew level with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at 13 points but zoomed to second place with a plus-12 goal difference, five points below league-leading Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles’ unbeaten slate.

The six goals came from different scorers for the league’s best-scoring squad with 19 total – two in the first period from Ace Amita and Marc Alvon Celis and four in the second from Eugene Arriola, Nickos Mamon twice, and Karl Absalon.

“We’re happy to win to start the second leg. UST won, UP won, so before the match we were fourth; so, everybody was pushing for this win. The boys played with a lot of heart and they played smart, so we’re very happy,” said FEU head coach Roman Oliver.

“It is not about one player scoring because you score with the team helping you score. It is all about teamwork. As long as it’s FEU scoring, I don’t care who scores.”

Amita and Celis plucked two early goals for FEU, testing Adamson’s goalkeeper Shane Salarda in quick succession in the 10th and 13th minutes, to head into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.

The offense did not let up in the second half for the Tamaraws, as even substitutes Arriola and Mamon chipped in with the scoring.

The two came off the bench to head the deliveries from rookie Edgar Aban in the said period. Aban sent the ball inside the box for Arriola in the 51st minute, while Mamon towered high to meet the corner kick in the 66th minute.

Absalon provided the nail in the coffin in the 73rd minute before Mamon added one in additional time for the Tamaraws, who will be going up against the University of the East Red Warriors (7 points, -8 GD) on Thursday at 6: 30 p.m.

“I love how the team is behaving when we lost the ball. This is exactly what we need. I’m happy with the teamwork, with the fight, with the pride. And I think this is the way to continue moving forward,” the first-year mentor, Oliver, said.

Adamson, which remained winless after seven matches, on the other hand, could not manufacture a decent shot that could bother both the defense and FEU keeper Mon Diansuy.

The Soaring Falcons will shoot for a monumental upset when they take on the unscathed Blue Eagles earlier in the day at 4 p.m.

Clarin anchors NU fourth quarter comeback

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 87 Basketball Standings

Men

*DLSU 10-1

*UP 9-2

UE 6-5

UST 5-6

AdU 4-7

FEU 4-7

Ateneo 3-8

NU 3-8

Women

*NU 10-0

*UST 9-1

AdU 8-3

Ateneo 6-5

FEU 3-7

UP 3-8

DLSU 2-8

UE 1-10

JHS

*UE 10-0

FEU-D 6-2

UST 5-4

NUNS 5-5

DLSZ 4-4

Ateneo 4-5

AdU 2-7

UPIS 0-9

*Final Four

Games on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

8 a.m. - FEU-D vs DLSZ (JHS)

10 a.m. - FEU vs DLSU (Women)

12 p.m. - NU vs UST (Women)

3:30 p.m. - FEU vs DLSU (Men)

6:30 p.m. - NU vs UST (Men)

Camille Clarin nailed a clutch three-pointer with 45.2 seconds left, sealing National University's come-from-behind 64-59 victory over University of the Philippines, pushing the Fighting Maroons to the brink of elimination in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday.

Clarin, who only had three points entering the fourth quarter, went for 13 points in the payoff period on four three-pointers and a free throw to lead the Lady Bulldogs’ comeback from a 44-48 hole to start the frame. The 5-foot-9 Filipino-Canadian guard who is in her senior year also tallied five assists and four rebounds for an all-around performance. 

“It was a timely hit by CC late in the fourth. Credit to her because  she made four three-point shots in the game so yung first seven attempts niya sablay. Hindi nawala yung concentration niya, hindi nawala yung confidence niya to hoist up a shot when it matters the most,” said NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan. 

Maymay Canuto, Tin Cayabyab, Angel Surada, Clarin, and Jainaba Konateh connived for a 16-2 blitz for a 60-50 NU lead with 5:41 remaining. 

Kaye Pesquera, however, commanded a 9-0 answer for UP to inch within one with 3:10 left before misses from both sides followed. 

Then Clarin, who earlier made three triples in their run, put the Lady Bulldogs on top by four, 63-59, with a conversion from deep.

The Lady Bulldogs hiked their record to 10-0 ahead of their clash with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. 

Ann Pingol also came through with 14 points, while Cielo Pagdulagan and Surada had 11 and 10 points, respectively. 

UP sank to 3-8 and is now hoping that Ateneo de Manila University lose all their remaining games while they win theirs to have a chance for at least a playoff for the fourth spot. 

Pesquera was the lone Fighting Maroon in double figures with 16 points, while Louna Ozar had nine points and nine rebounds in the loss. 

UP looks to keep its slim hopes alive next Sunday when it faces De La Salle University at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The Scores: 

NU 64 - Clarin 16, Pingol 14, Pagdulagan 11, Surada 10, Cayabyab 7, Konateh 4, Canuto 1, Betanio 1, Fabruada 0, Solis 0, Villanueva 0. 

UP 59 - Pesquera 16, Ozar 9, Bariquit 6, Maw 6, Tapawan 4, Sauz 4, Nolasco 4, Vingno 3, Jimenez 3, Solitario 2, Lozada 2, Quinquinio 0, Barba 0. 

Quarterscores: 8-17, 25-29, 44-48, 64-59.

UP pound UE to kickstart second round campaign

c/o UAAP

Women's Football Matches on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium

4 p.m. – UST vs DLSU

6:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs UP

CAPTAIN Macky Tobias scored twice in the second half to propel University of the Philippines in a rousing second-round campaign opener, completing a season sweep of University of the East, 4-1, in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football tournament on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.

The defending champions momentarily seized solo second following a rise to 13 points and a plus-8 goal difference, just above University of Santo Tomas at 12 points (+1 GD), thanks to goals from the graduating senior Tobias and rookies Joseph Garces and Joses Azur.

“We wanted to get a good start to gain momentum. We ended the last round with a win, so this second round, we want to build consistency and momentum,” said UP head coach Popoy Clarino. 

“We are already in that stage where teams are neck-and-neck and a slip-up can be a setback. We have to move forward, and we have to set higher standards for our team every game.”

Just like in their first-round encounter last October 13, it was rookie Garces who delivered the early go-ahead for UP – his fifth of the season.

CJ Donato attracted the defense on the run to the goal and found Cian Galsim to his right. Galsim then sent the ball into the box for Garces for the opener in the 9th minute past UE keeper Chrisjan Tambilawan.

Joses Azur could have doubled the lead with two chances, including an empty-goal attempt, but Mark Maghinay denied him in the 51st minute.

Tobias, though, would not be stopped in the dying minutes of the match, sealing UP’s fourth win with back-to-back goals in the 87th and the 89th minutes.

The Fighting Maroons will seek its third straight win when it faces the so-far unbeaten Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday at 2 p.m., still at the same Diliman venue.

“Of course, it’s going to be a great match. Ateneo is a great team; we are looking forward to going up against them. We'll try to improve, try to learn what we can from this last game, and, hopefully, we can succeed in what we plan on doing,” added the second-year mentor, Clarino, on that crucial battle against the Blue Eagles.

UE got one back in the second-half added time with John Magallon, but birthday boy Azur plucked a late reply for UP to nail the final tally.

The Red Warriors were forced to play with 10 men after Daniel Cabacungan was sent off in the 66th minute.

UE remained at 7 points and a minus-8 GD and will look to snap this skid against the De La Salle Green Booters later that day at 7 p.m.

Ballespin strike stuns La Salle late for UST

c/o UAAP

Matches on Thursday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium

4 p.m. — ADU vs Ateneo

6:30 p.m. — FEU vs UE

RENAN Ballespin fired the go-ahead goal to hand University of Santo Tomas a 2-1 victory over De La Salle University in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament on Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

Ballespin, a striker out of Valencia City High School in Bukidnon, latched on Andrew Gregg Ramos’ assist to score in the 87th minute past La Salle goalkeeper and captain Enrico Mangaoang and secure full points for UST.

“Nakikinig lang po ako sa mga sinasabi ng mga coaches ko,” said Ballespin. “Binabasa ko lang  yung takbo ng laro. Nakita ko yung bola na medyo pabalik sa akin kaya nag-take ako ng chance (para maka-score).”

The Golden Booters had to dig deep after facing an early setback in the match as Gabe Suarez gave the Green Booters a dream start with a 21st-minute goal off Lucas Andan’s cross.

Regrouping during the halftime break, UST got back in the contest when defender Jarred Regis scored the leveler just two minutes after the restart. Kyler Escobar could have given the Golden Booters an earlier lead, only for his header to hit the post, while Chris Valderama had free kicks that missed the target.

Ultimately, Ballespin’s late goal ensured that UST would not regret those missed chances.

“Nag-click yung game plan ni Coach Marjo (Allado),” said deputy Arman Esteban. “Yung players gustong manalo kaya at least even if we came from behind, naka-secure kami ng three points ngayong araw.”

The result was a reversal of both schools’ first-round clash, which De La Salle won 1-0 off Lucas Aguilar’s goal last October 6.

The Golden Booters rose to second place in the standings with 12 points and a plus-1 goal difference. UST will return to action this Sunday against Adamson University at 4:30 p.m. on the same pitch.

On the other hand, the Green Booters remained in fifth place with seven points and a minus-5 GD.

De La Salle will try to end a two-game skid when it faces University of the East this Sunday at 7 p.m. at the same venue.