Sabrina Ionescu witnesses a taste of the Philippines' love affair with basketball

Sabrina Ionescu

It was not long before Sabrina Ionescu figured out how much the Philippines loves its basketball.

Fresh from touching down after crossing the Pacific Ocean to kickstart her Asian Tour, she got to see the announcement of her Asian Tour with Nike on the 5th Avenue 3D Billboard at BGC on Sunday night.

The first official day of her tour saw her visit the House of Sabrina at Nike Fort, where she was touched by the warmth and enthusiasm of Filipino fans as she made her way to the Taguig venue to meet with notable talents and elements that exist in the Filipino basketball community, especially on the women's side.

In a panel with Gilas Youth head coach LA Tenorio, UAAP champion and Gilas Women member Camille Clarin, and former UAAP champion and current DLSU women's head coach Cholo Villanueva, the New York Liberty guard shared a little bit of insight on the sport that people can instantly relate with in real life:

“I think it’s crucial to learn how to prioritize and understand what’s really important to you and how to be the best basketball player you can be, how to never let the ball stop bouncing, but also understand that there’s so much more to you than just being a basketball player, that you must continue to grow.I think it’s also about being open-minded ..and doing what you enjoy..just being true to yourself.” 

Ionescu then visited the nearby Nike Courtyard at BGC, a 2,182-sq meter communal basketball court at the corner of 25th Street and 7th Avenue that caters to ballers who need a safe and inclusive place to play, year-round.

There, she led a skills camp with participants, including members of Her Hoops, witnessing how she honed her all-around and dynamic playing style that helped secure the Liberty their first-ever WNBA title.

The second day of her tour will highlight a launch of a local Nike Sabrina 2 collaboration, which will then be followed by a Show Her Love basketball showcase in the afternoon at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

At the hallowed venue, she will be playing alongside local basketball starts in a game.

Current professionals Rhenz Abando, Ricci Rivero, Dave Ildefonso, Paul Lee, and Japeth Aguilar, recent Nike signees Harold Alarcon and Kieffer Alas, as well as Gilas Women standouts Kacey dela Rosa, Camille Nolasco, Louna Ozar, and Afril Bernardino are set to join Ionescu in that exhibition.

In addition, the former WNBA 3-point champion will also test her marksmanship from deep against a field of local players.

Manila is the first stop of her inaugural international tour with Nike, as she heads to Guangzhou and Hong Kong later in the week.

Valino anchors UP to shutout victory

c/o UAAP Media Team

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines wrapped up its first round of the UAAP Season 87 Softball Tournament on a high note, securing a 3-0 shutout victory over University of Santo Tomas on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate, Manila.

Senior pitcher KC Valino made a strong return to the mound, earning her second win in as many starts this season. She delivered a dominant performance, allowing just three hits while striking out three batters.

The San Miguel, Bulacan native also contributed offensively, recording two of UP’s six total hits. Team captain Nickole Dela Cruz matched Valino’s effort with two hits in three at-bats, helping the Fighting Maroons (3-1) claim solo second place after the opening round.

The difference came in the second inning, when Dela Cruz led off with a sharp grounder down the third-base foul line. First baseman Martine Francisco and Generose Torremocha followed with hits of their own. Francisco’s connection sent Dela Cruz home for the go-ahead run, while a Reuel Caoagdan sacrifice fly to right field extended the lead to 2-0.

Following a tough 4-12 loss to Adamson University in their previous outing, UP head coach Ron Pagkaliwagan stressed the importance of returning to fundamentals.

"Ang in-address ko lang sa kanila is 'yung back to basic softball tayo. Doon kami nag-focus nung bumalik kami sa training," he said.

("I just addressed with them that we need to go back to basic softball. That's what we focused on when we returned to training.")

He also emphasized taking things step by step as they head into the second round.

"Masyado pang maaga para isipin ang mga mangyayari pero at least ando'n na kami, naka-una na kami. Ganun pa rin ang focus namin, one game at a time," Pagkaliwagan added.

("It's still too early to think about what will happen, but at least we're there, we've taken the first step. Our focus remains the same, one game at a time.")

UP tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning, with Valino and Dela Cruz working together to extend the lead to 3-0. The Fighting Maroons then held strong defensively to seal the victory.

The second round of the tournament begins on Saturday, though match schedules have yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, UST faces a quick turnaround, as they are set to take on Ateneo de Manila University later in the day at 1 p.m. The game was washed out last Saturday due to heavy rain.

The Softbelles had a golden opportunity to score in the fifth inning when reigning Rookie of the Year Helga Campos smashed a triple to deep center. Angela Solidarios followed with a sharp grounder to third base, forcing a defensive play that led to Campos being tagged out in a tense sequence.

Francisco initially fielded the ball and threw it to Caoagdan at home, but the throw sailed past the catcher. Campos attempted to capitalize and dash for the plate, but Caoagdan swiftly recovered, initiating a relay play that resulted in a crucial second out for the second-year Thomasian standout.

Mary Jane Beronilla took the loss for UST, surrendering four hits and two earned runs in five innings. Chang Chih-Ling pitched one inning in relief, giving up one earned run and two additional hits.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
UST 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
UP 0 2 0 0 0 1 x 3 6 0

UST at cusp of first round sweep in tennis

 

UAAP Season 87 Tennis Standings

Men's
UST 5-0
NU 4-1
UE 4-2
UP 4-2
Ateneo 2-4
AdU 1-5
DLSU 0-6

Women's
NU 3-0
UST 3-1
UP 2-2
DLSU 1-3
Ateneo 0-3

Ties on Wednesday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center inside Rizal Memorial Sports Complex

7:30 a.m. - NU vs UST (Men)
7:30 a.m. - NU vs Ateneo (Women)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas dominated both the men’s and women’s divisions of the UAAP Season 87 Tennis Tournament, securing twin victories, Sunday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

The Male Tennisters moved one step closer to a first-round sweep after a commanding 5-0 victory over De La Salle University.

“‘Yung experience nila for last two seasons, malaking tulong ‘yun sa kanila—‘yung confidence nila, ‘yung experience nila… tsaka may mga graduating players din, so I think gusto rin nilang mag-perform talaga kasi apat sila sa team,” said UST head coach Alexander Diego, highlighting the team’s dominant run.

("The experience they’ve gained over the last two seasons has been a huge help for them—their confidence, their experience… and we also have graduating players, so I think they really want to perform well since there are four of them on the team.")

Nilo Ledama set the tone for UST, outlasting La Salle’s Ohye Tortal with a 7-5, 6-3 win in the first singles match. Ericjay Tangub followed with an emphatic 6-1, 6-1 victory over JT Bernardo in the second singles match, while Sebastian Santos kept UST in control with a 6-2, 6-3 win against Yassan Al-Anazi.

In doubles action, Richard Bautista and Nash Agustines overwhelmed La Salle’s Leyton Portin and Darwin Cosca, 6-2, 6-2. To complete the sweep, Steven Sonsona and Symon Jaculan battled past EJ Geluz and Enzo Enriquez in a thrilling 6-3, 6(4)-7(7), 10-8 finish.

With the win, the Male Tennisters extended their unbeaten streak to 5-0, solidifying their place at the top of the standings. Meanwhile, the Green Tennisters remained winless at 0-6.

In the women’s division, UST asserted its dominance over University of the Philippines with a 4-1 triumph, securing sole possession of second place in the standings.

Although UP struck first with Jufe Cocoy’s commanding 7-5, 6-0 victory over Patricia Lim, UST quickly responded. Mica Emana overpowered UP’s Jonamil Prado, 6-2, 6-2, to level the tie.

Kaye Emana then showcased her resilience in a grueling three-set battle against Joshea Malazarte. After dropping the first set, she staged a determined comeback, clinching a 2-6, 6-4, 7(7)-6(4) victory.

The overall win was sealed in the second doubles match, where Minette Bentillo and Justine Maneja outlasted UP’s Sydney Enriquez and Jesha Cervantes, 6-3, 7-5.

With the victory, UST improved to 3-1, while UP slipped to 2-2, settling into third place.

Earlier in the men’s division, National University secured a hard-fought 4-1 win over University of the East, thanks to a clutch performance by Gab Bandoquillo and Aljon Talatayod. The duo clinched the tie in the first doubles match, defeating Jarell Edangga and Mark Dave Palanas, 6-2, 6-2.

Andrei Padao got NU off to a strong start with a 6-2, 6-2 win over UE’s Gerald Gemida in the first singles match. However, JB Aguilar rallied for the Red Warriors, battling through a first-set tiebreak before claiming a 7(7)-6(2), 6-2 victory against Jules Lazaro in the second singles match.

EJ Tugade then stepped up for the Bulldogs, overcoming UE’s Romeo Largo 6-3, 7-4 to regain the momentum. The final doubles match saw NU’s Angil Balaoing and Christian Padilla endure a tense showdown, edging RJ Baje and Kent Morales in a dramatic 6-4, 7(7)-6(4), 11-9 thriller to seal the victory.

With the win, NU moved to 4-1, claiming solo second place ahead of UE and UP, both at 4-2.

Meanwhile, the Fighting Maroons notched their second consecutive victory, dispatching the Ateneo Blue Eagles with a 4-1 win.

Aslan Carbonilla secured the tie with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 victory over JD Velez in the second singles match. Loucas Fernandez followed with a flawless performance in the third singles match, blanking Ateneo’s Rafa Mendoza, 6-0, 6-0.

Miguel Iglupas kept UP’s momentum rolling in the first singles match, dropping just two games in a 6-1, 6-1 win over Stef Gurria. The Fighting Maroons also controlled the doubles court, as Andrei Jarata and Ava Mandac powered past JB Cuarto and Aidyll Ignacio, 7-5, 6-2.

Ateneo managed to avoid a sweep thanks to JJ Llavore and Gian Camingue, who outlasted UP’s Lance Fernandez and Raymund Goco in a tight 6-4, 7(7)-6(2), 10-6 victory.

With the win, UP improved to 4-2, sharing the third and fourth spots with UE, while Ateneo slipped to 2-4 in fifth place.

The postponed ties between NU and UST in the men’s division, as well as NU and Ateneo in the women’s division, will be played on Wednesday.

Abbu steps up in UST triumph over Ateneo

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Standings

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

Games on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

9 a.m. - NU vs Adamson (Men)
11 a.m. - Ateneo vs La Salle (Men)
1 p.m. - NU vs Adamson (Women)
3 p.m. - Ateneo vs La Salle (Women)

University of Santo Tomas came to its senses after a lethargic start to sweep Ateneo de Manila University, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21, to stretch its winning run in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

The Golden Tigresses sustained their remarkable rise from a season opening loss to Far Eastern University to raise their record to 5-1 at solo second, just behind last year’s Finals tormentor National University Lady Bulldogs.

UST and NU will clash in a rematch of the Season 86 Finals next Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Thankful kami first time namin maka straight set. Ipa-polish pa namin ‘yung mga skills kasi nagkakaroon ng doubt saka confusion sa game namin especially sa receiving formation namin kaya kailangan naming itama at… kailangan committed sila sa lahat ng gagawin nila,” said Golden Tigresses assistant coach Yani Fernandez after the one-hour, 34-minute match.

Ateneo raced to a 10-4 blistering start to open the game but UST responded after a timeout by head coach Kungfu Reyes.

Through Angge Poyos, Regina Jurado, and Pia Abbu, the Golden Tigresses rallied for a 21-10 finisher to take the first frame, 25-20.

Then UST just held sway the rest of the way with Poyos’ 19 points at the forefront with Jurado also contributing 14 points on 12 attacks and two blocks.

“All thanks po sa coaches namin na grabe po ‘yung tiyaga sa amin sa training and tinututukan po kami individually and per department po sa skills. Sa kanila po talaga ang puri sa performance namin ngayon,” said Abbu, which delivered a career-best 13 points on eight spikes and a team-high five blocks.

The Blue Eagles, who already lost to wing spikers Jlo Delos Santos and Geezel Tsunashima to season-ending injuries, got another hit with outside hitter Sobe Buena going down in the first set with an apparent right leg injury. She landed badly after a spike attempt and was stretchered off the court.

Ateneo dropped to 1-4 at seventh place.

AC Miner paced the Blue Eagles with 13 points, while Lyann de Guzman produced 11 points, five receptions, and four digs.

Ateneo looks to return to its winning ways on Wednesday against De La Salle University at the same venue.

NU extends streak to five with UP triumph

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

9 a.m. - NU vs Adamson (Men)
11 a.m. - Ateneo vs La Salle (Men)
1 p.m. - NU vs Adamson (Women)
3 p.m. - Ateneo vs La Salle (Women)

National University secured its fifth straight win at the expense of University of the Philippines, 25-13, 25-23, 25-22, to stay unscathed in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Sunday.

The Lady Bulldogs now hold a spotless 5-0 record atop the eight-team field. They will next face the Adamson Lady Falcons on Wednesday at the same venue before last season’s Finals rematch against the UST Golden Tigresses to cap the first round.

“Happy naman syempre nakuha namin yung panalo pero syempre yung situation nung second and third [set] magkaiba kasi. Nakarekober din kami doon sa run ng UP. Pero, knowing NU naman mga seniors na sila so alam na rin naman nila yung gagawin nila,” said NU head coach Sherwin Meneses.

(“Of course, we're happy that we got the win, but the situations in the second and third sets were different. We were able to recover from UP’s run. But knowing NU, most of them are already seniors, so they knew what to do.")

In the second and third frames, the Lady Bulldogs needed to deny the Fighting Maroons’ fightback attempts.

Down 20-23, UP’s Bienne Bansil and Kassy Doering launched three straight points to inch within one only for Bansil to serve strong straight outside for the 25-23 escape of NU in the second.

Then in the third period, the Lady Bulldogs saw their 22-16 edge dissipate with Kianne Olango, Joan Monares, and Doering leading the Fighting Maroons’ comeback to level at 22.

But Alyssa Solomon, Celine Marsh, and Erin Pangilinan racked up three straight points on a crosscourt kill, down-the-line hit, and a block, respectively for the NU win in 94 minutes.

“Lagi ko lang naman sinasabi sa mga pinapasok ni Coach Sherwin, lalo na sa mga bata na ilaro lang nila kung ano yung laro nila. Kasi minsan, masyado silang maraming iniisip. Siguro nga, dahil pressured or dahil dikit yung laban kanina. Then yun lang, sinabi ko lang na kailangan lang nila ienjoy kasi binigyan sila ng opportunity to play,” said Belen, who had 17 points and seven receptions.

("I always tell the players that Coach Sherwin sends in, especially the younger ones, to just play their game. Sometimes, they overthink things—maybe because of the pressure or because the match was really close. I just reminded them to enjoy the game because they were given the opportunity to play.")

Solomon, who declared for the 2025 Korean V-League (KOVO) Draft, added 16 points on 13-of-28 attacks and three blocks, while Vange Alinsug made 11 points and six digs.

The Fighting Maroons, on the other hand, saw their slump stretched to four games, dropping to 2-4 at seventh.

Doering, an American middle blocker, top-scored for UP with 11 points on eight spikes and three blocks while Olango, who came from NU Nazareth School, contributed 10 points.

They missed Niña Ytang for the second straight game as she is still feeling under the weather.

UP will finish its first round schedule next Sunday against Adamson at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

UST makes HS Boys Basketball finals return after fifteen-year drought

 

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre

10 a m. – UST vs NUNS (Girls' Finals)
12 noon – NUNS vs UST (Boys' Finals)

FOR the first time in 15 years—since UAAP Season 73 in 2010—the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs are heading to the UAAP High School Boys’ Basketball Finals.

No. 2 seed Tiger Cubs took care of business in their Season 87 Final Four matchup against the No. 3-ranked Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws, securing a 75-63 victory Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

With the win, UST set up a championship showdown against the top-seeded National University Nazareth School Bullpups, who earlier eliminated the defending champion Adamson Baby Falcons with a 64-62 escape.

The last time the Tiger Cubs reached the finals, a squad led by Kevin Ferrer fell to Kiefer Ravena and Ateneo in a three-game series.  The España-based program last won a title in 2001.

UST and NUNS will tip off their best-of-three title series on Thursday at 12 p.m. at the same San Juan venue. Coincidentally, the Junior Growling Tigresses and the Lady Bullpups will also battle for the girls’ basketball crown which tips off earlier in the day at 10 a.m.

“Sabi ko sa kanila, balewala na kung sino man nanalo nung first at second round. Tapos na yun,” said second-year Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Iñigo, as the two teams split their elimination round meetings. “We have to start back from scratch. Mas magiging ready pa kami kasi alam namin na hindi papayag yung NU na ganun lang lalaruin nila like nung last time. Mag-aadjust yan, at kami rin titignan din namin yung mga dapat i-adjust pa.”

("I told them that it doesn’t matter who won in the first and second rounds—that’s already in the past. We have to start from scratch. We need to be even more prepared because we know NU won’t play the same way they did last time. They will make adjustments, and we will also look at what we need to improve.")

UST wasted no time asserting dominance over FEU-D, racing to a 23-11 start behind Koji Buenaflor and Wacky Ludovice, who combined for 15 points in the opening frame.

Ludovice, a former San Beda Red Cub, led the charge with 16 points, including three triples, along with four rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Buenaflor added 15 points and seven boards.

The Tiger Cubs remained relentless, extending their lead to as much as 19 points, 58-39, after a Kirk Cañete three-pointer early in the third quarter.

UST protected its advantage until the final buzzer, anchored by the presence of Senegalese forward Racine Kane in the paint.

“Thank you kay God sa panalo. Tinrabaho talaga ng boys. Kitang-kita naman na kahit sino ang pasok namin kanina, nagpapakita. Talagang gustong manalo ng boys,” said Inigo. “Kahit nung practices namin, ramdam na namin. Sana matuloy.”

("Thank God for the win. The boys really put in the work. You could see that no matter who we sent in, they stepped up. They really wanted to win. Even during our practices, we could already feel it. Hopefully, it continues.")

Charles Bucit also contributed 15 points, drilling three triples, while Kane posted an 11-point, 15-rebound double-double with five assists, four steals, and a block. Cañete chipped in 10 points, also sinking three triples.

Heading into the finals, UST carries confidence, having defeated NUNS convincingly, 76-56, in their second-round encounter last March 9.

“Malaking bagay ito sa amin na maganda yung momentum namin. Yung confidence din ng boys mataas. Right timing talaga,” Inigo said. “Sabi ko nga, tuloy lang nila yung mindset at enjoy lang namin yung laro.”

("This is a big deal for us because we have great momentum. The boys’ confidence is also high. The timing is just right. I told them to keep the same mindset and just enjoy the game.")

On the other side, FEU-D settled for the bronze, with Marc Burgos and Cabs Cabonillas each registering double-doubles. Burgos tallied 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Cabonillas had 15 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.

The Baby Tamaraws will bid farewell to Hans Castillejos, Damme De Guzman, and Liam Salangsang, while Miko Pascual and Xyrus Gemao have aged out of the boys' division.

The Scores:

UST 75 - Ludovice 16, Buenaflor 15, Bucsit 15, Kane 11, Cañete 10, Solon 4, Esteban 2, Manding 2, Acido 0.

FEU-D 63 - Burgos 17, Cabonilas 15, Raneses 10, Salangsang 6, Pascual 6, Godoy 4, Esperanze 3, Gemao 0, Hall 0, Cagurunga 0, Santos 0.

Quarterscores: 23-11, 46-35, 65-55, 75-63.

NU-Nazareth dethrones Adamson, returns to HS Basketball Finals

c/o UAAP Media Team

Game on Thursday at the Filoil Ecooil Centre

10 a.m. - UST vs NUNS (girls)

TOP-SEEDED National University Nazareth School bounced back from its first defeat of the season, dethroning Adamson University with a nail-biting 64-62 victory to secure a spot in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball Finals on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

The Bullpups are headed to the championship stage for the second straight season and their 11th time in the last 12 seasons. They now await the winner of the other Final Four matchup between No. 2 University of Santo Tomas and No. 3 Far Eastern University-Diliman, which was still ongoing at the time of publishing.

For NUNS, the win was also a measure of revenge after falling to Adamson in three games in last season’s finals.

“Sabi ko lang sa kanila, tandaan niyo yung mga pinagdaanan natin. Pinakita ko sa kanila lahat ng defeats namin since last year,” said third-year Bullpups head coach Kevin De Castro.

("I just told them to remember everything we’ve been through. I showed them all our defeats since last year.")

NUNS had entered the Final Four after a tough 76-56 loss to the UST Tiger Cubs, which denied them an outright finals berth.

“Very positive ako na yung tiwala nila sa akin nandun pa rin. Sabi ko nga, ‘kung ako may tiwala sa kanila, sila dapat magtiwala rin sa akin.’ Whatever happens to me, wala akong regret. Gusto ko rin magpasalamat kay Coach Jeff (Napa) dahil last game, dinepensahan niya ako. So talagang yung panalo na ito, masasabi ko na credit sa boys dahil tinrabaho nila ito,” De Castro added, breaking down in tears.

("I'm very positive that they still trust me. I told them, ‘If I trust them, they should trust me too.’ Whatever happens to me, I have no regrets. I also want to thank Coach Jeff (Napa) because in our last game, he defended me. So this win, I can truly say, is credit to the boys because they worked hard for it.")

The Bullpups had to dig deep as last season’s Most Valuable Player, Collins Akowe, spent most of the game in foul trouble.

With their 6-foot-10 Nigerian big man limited, Adamson capitalized early, racing to a 13-2 start and holding a 47-42 lead entering the final frame.

But NUNS’s unheralded lineup of Migs Palanca, Mot Matias, Miekho Natinga, Alnhumaeri Usop, and Jedric Solomon sparked a comeback. Back-to-back three-pointers from Usop and Natinga with six minutes left gave the Bullpups their first lead of the game, 53-49.

NUNS extended its advantage to as much as eight, 61-53, with 2:54 remaining.

Adamson mounted one final push, trimming the deficit to two, 64-62, but with just 1.6 seconds left, time ran out on their reign as defending champions.

“First of all, I want to thank my players kasi ito yung hinahanap ko sa kanila na game — yung struggling si Collins tapos maganda depensa kay Mac. Ang biggest question lagi sa kanila is who is going to step up. This game, nag-step up si Mot for Jid, nag-step up si Miekho for Mac, then si Miguel nag-step up for Collins. So kung meron man ako i-credit dito sa game, sila yun,” said De Castro.

("First of all, I want to thank my players because this is the kind of game I was looking for from them—Collins was struggling, and we had solid defense on Mac. The biggest question for them has always been: Who is going to step up? This game, Mot stepped up for Jid, Miekho stepped up for Mac, and Miguel stepped up for Collins. So if there's anyone I should credit for this win, it's them.")

“Ngayon, may opportunity na kami to go to the finals at nabawian na namin yung Adamson. So ngayon siguro, ito yung time na mabawian namin yung UST. Wala akong masabi sa kanila dahil nakita ko yung heart at resilience nila.”

("Now, we have the opportunity to go to the finals, and we've finally avenged our loss to Adamson. Maybe this is also our chance to get back at UST. I have nothing but praise for my players because I saw their heart and resilience.")

Palanca led NUNS with a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Natinga delivered a career-best 11 points in just 13 minutes. Matias contributed eight points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Akowe, the presumptive winner of the UAAP's first-ever Best Foreign Student-Athlete award, missed a double-double for the second straight game, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds before fouling out with five seconds remaining.

Meanwhile, Adamson’s Mark Esperanza put up a valiant effort, finishing with 24 points, six rebounds, and six assists.

As the Baby Falcons bid farewell to their championship reign, seven key players—Earl Medina, Allen Perez, Sanir Sajili, CJ Umali, Gabe De Jesus, Jireh Tumaneng, and JR Abayon—will be graduating after this season.

The Scores

NUNS 64 - Palanca 12, Akowe 11, Natinga 11, Matias 8, Alfanta 6, Pillado 6, Solomon 4, Solomon 3, Usop 2, Cartel 0, Nepacena 0, Napa 0.

AdU 62 - Esperanza 24, Sajili 10, Umali 7, De Jesus 5, Medina 4, Tumaneng 4, Abayon 4, Perez 4, Murillo 0.

Quarterscores: 11-20, 25-33, 42-47, 64-62.

Ateneo stuns fancied UST

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Standings

Team W-L

FEU 6 0
NU 4 1
UST 4 2
DLSU 3 2
Ateneo 3 2
AdU 1 4
UP 1 5
UE 0 6

Games on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

9 a.m. - NU vs Adamson (Men)
11 a.m. - Ateneo vs La Salle (Men)
1 p.m. - NU vs Adamson (Women)
3 p.m. - Ateneo vs La Salle (Women)

Ateneo de Manila University overcame a third-set stumble to snap University of Santo Tomas’ four-game winning streak, securing a 25-20, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21 victory in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The triumph marked the Blue Eagles' third straight conquest of the Golden Spikers' dating back from last season.

Bouncing back from a four-set loss to still-undefeated Far Eastern University last March 2, Ateneo handed the streaking UST a reality check.

With the win, the Blue Eagles improved to a 3-2 record, tying the De La Salle University Green Spikers for fourth place ahead of their highly anticipated rivalry match on Wednesday, March 12, at the same Pasay venue.

Ateneo’s triumph also spoiled the return of two-time MVP Josh Ybañez, who came off the bench for UST after missing four games due to a Grade 2 right ankle sprain sustained in their season-opening loss against FEU last February 15.

“Lahat ng makakalaban namin moving forward is top team. Lahat ng teams sa UAAP, lahat yan malalakas at pangchampion. Ganon dapat namin sila pinaghahandaan every game, kahit sino at kahit ano rank, kahit maglalaro pa sa worlds, dapat iisa lang yung mindset namin na top-caliber yung kalaban namin para hindi kami maging complacent,” Ateneo head coach Vince Mangulabnan said.

("Every team we’ll face moving forward is a top team. All UAAP teams are strong and championship-caliber. That’s how we need to prepare for every game—regardless of their rank or even if they’re competing on the world stage. Our mindset should always be that we’re up against a top-tier opponent to ensure we don’t become complacent.")

With the loss—and National University’s four-set win over the University of the Philippines earlier in the day—UST dropped to solo third place in the eight-team standings with a 4-2 record.

With the fourth set tied at 15-all, the Blue Eagles broke away with a crucial 5-0 run, capitalizing on three attack errors from JJ Macam and Gboy de Vega, along with two quick hits from Jian Salarzon, to establish a 20-15 cushion.

Rookie opposite hitter Al-Bukharie Sali attempted to keep UST within reach, but Ateneo’s balanced attack proved too much. Amil Pacinio fired two consecutive kills, followed by a crosscourt hit from Kennedy Batas, an attack error by Dela Noche, and a game-sealing down-the-line spike from Pacinio to complete the four-set victory.

In the second set, Ateneo erased a 17-19 deficit with a late surge led by Pacinio, Brian Castro, and Batas to claim a 25-22 win and take a commanding two-set lead. The Blue Eagles also capitalized on UST’s 11 errors in the opening frame, with Batas scoring the final three points to put Ateneo ahead early.

“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, pag nanalo kami, hindi dahil sa aming coaches ‘yon, dahil sa kanila kasi nga nagtiwala lang sila kung ano game plan namin. It’s all guidance lang talaga with the way we practice and magaral, it’s all guide kasi yung inaral namin, nagbunga,” Mangulabnan added.

("I told them that if we win, it’s not because of us coaches—it’s because of them. They trusted our game plan. Our role is simply to guide them in practice and in studying the game, and in the end, all the preparation paid off.")

Batas continued his scoring run with a game-high 21-point performance built on 17 attacks, three aces, and one block with 10 excellent receptions and two excellent digs, while Pacinio provided ample support with 17 points on 14 attacks, two blocks, and one ace.

Salarzon tallied 12 points on 11 attacks and one block with eight excellent receptions and two six excellent digs, while Castro chipped in six points on three attacks and three blocks.

Lorenzo Gutierrez dished out 20 excellent sets with two points, while team captain Lance de Castro had six excellent digs and five excellent receptions.

Macam paced the Golden Spikers in the losing effort with 14 points, six excellent digs, and three excellent receptions, while Dela Noche scored 12 points on 11 attacks and one block with four excellent digs.

De Vega provided 11 points, five excellent receptions, and four excellent digs off the bench, while Popoy Colinares also tallied 11 points on eight attacks, two blocks, and one ace.

Team captain Dux Yambao tossed 20 excellent sets.

The Golden Spikers now aim to close out the first round on a high note when they face the Bulldogs in a rematch of the past two UAAP men’s volleyball finals next Sunday, March 16, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Buddin takes over in NU victory over UP

c/o UAAP

Games Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

9 a.m. - NU vs Adamson (Men)
11 a.m. - Ateneo vs La Salle (Men)
1 p.m. - NU vs Adamson (Women)
3 p.m. - Ateneo vs La Salle (Women)

DEFENDING champion National University overcame a third-set stumble to secure a 25-12, 25-15, 15-25, 25-22 victory over University of the Philippines, earning its second straight win in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

After dropping the third set, the Bulldogs regained their composure in the fourth, breaking an 18-all deadlock with a 4-0 run. A well-placed offspeed hit from Leo Ordiales, two costly attack errors by Nigerian spiker Olayemi Raheem, and a service ace from Leo Aringo propelled NU to a 22-18 advantage.

UP attempted a late rally, capitalizing on an Aringo attack error and a Tommy Castrodes off-the-block hit to cut the deficit to 22-20. However, another offspeed shot from Ordiales, a service error by Clarence Santiago, and a quick attack from Choi Diao sealed NU’s hard-fought, one-hour and 27-minute win.

“Yung naging problema talaga namin nung third set is yung mga unforced errors namin and kung kailan kami nakakuha ng momentum, nawawala sa amin. Nung fourth set, minindset lang namin na meron dapat kami ginagawa na may kasigurudahan, hindi pwedeng magdoubt sa sarili,” NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin said.

("Our main problem in the third set was our unforced errors, and whenever we gained momentum, we would lose it. In the fourth set, we just set our minds on making sure that everything we did was certain—we couldn’t afford to doubt ourselves.")

Despite dominating the first two sets, NU struggled in the third, falling behind 5-12—a gap too wide to recover from. Consecutive points from Castrodes and an Aringo attack error crushed the Bulldogs’ hopes of a sweep.

Earlier in the match, NU built a commanding 2-0 set lead after an ace by Dan Nicolas and back-to-back Castrodes hits trimmed UP’s deficit from 10 to six at 21-15. A net touch violation and three consecutive blocks by Ordiales and Aringo ultimately closed out the second set in favor of the Bulldogs.

Following a tough loss to the still-undefeated FEU Tamaraws on February 23, NU has regained its rhythm with consecutive wins, improving to a 4-1 record and tying University of Santo Tomas for second place. UST, as of writing, is set to face Ateneo de Manila University later today at 11 a.m.

The win also allowed NU to assert their mastery over UP, clinching their 12th consecutive win over the Fighting Maroons dating back to a second round win in Season 78 last March 20, 2016.

“Hanggang sa sabi ko na anytime na may situation na mahirap, balik tayo sa simula tapos magenjoy tayo sa ginagawa natin. Tsaka every time na may magandang ginagawa, i-celebrate natin kasi kahit papaano, nakakadagdag ng kumpyansa sa bawat isa ‘yon,” Alinsunurin added.

("I told them that whenever we face a tough situation, we should go back to the basics and just enjoy what we're doing. Also, every time we do something good, we should celebrate it because, in some way, it helps boost each other's confidence.")

Buddin came through with 22 points on 17 attacks, three aces, all in the first set where the Bulldogs dominated, and two blocks with six excellent receptions and one dig, while Aringo scored 16 points built on 12 attacks, two blocks, and two aces with 10 excellent receptions and two excellent digs. Ordiales also made an impact in the scoring department with 14 points on nine attacks and five blocks with three excellent digs.

Peng Taguibolos tallied nine points on five attacks and four blocks, while Congolese middle blocker Obed Mukaba chipped in eight points on four attacks, three blocks, and one ace.

Greg Ancheta dished out 18 excellent sets, while starting libero Jimwell Gapultos tallied nine excellent digs and six excellent receptions.

NU will next face Adamson University in their penultimate first round match on Wednesday, March 12, still at the SM MOA Arena.

After carving out a hardfought five-set win over the Red Warriors to open the season, the Fighting Maroons have skidded towards their fifth straight defeat with a 1-5 card at seventh place.

Raheem paced UP in the loss with 16 points on 15 attacks and one block with two excellent digs, while Castrodes scored 13 points on 12 attacks and one block with seven excellent receptions and three excellent digs.

UP looks to rediscover its winning ways against Adamson next Sunday, March 16, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Southridge secures inside track to UAAP HS postseason

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Football Tournament Standings

*FEU-D 25 points (+21)

*UST 22 points (+14)

*DLSZ 13 points (+1)

Southridge 10 points (-1)

Ateneo 9 points (-6)

Claret 0 points (-29)

*Final Four

Matches on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium

2 p.m. —CSQC vs DLSZ

4:30 p.m. — UST vs FEU

7 p.m. — ATENEO vs SRG

PAREF Southridge moved one step closer into entering the Final Four of the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ High School Football Tournament by leapfrogging Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

Ahead of both schools’ crunch clash in the final elimination round matchday next Saturday, Southridge dismantled fellow guest team Claret School of Quezon City 3-0 while Ateneo suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of University of Santo Tomas.

Above the two schools chasing the last Final Four ticket are Far Eastern University-Diliman in first place with 25 points, UST in second place with 22 points, and third-placed De La Salle Zobel with 13 points.

“Yes, it's all about the homework and the training that we did before this match or toward this match,” said Ghanaian mentor Sam Booney after his Admirals leapt to fourth in the standings with 10 points with the Blue Eagles narrowly behind them with nine points in fifth place.

“We knew they would come up with a back five and we prepared for it. We trained very hard for all the goals that we scored. Everything we did in training showed up in the game.”

Clinical in front of the goal, Kale Javier’s two-goal performance set Southridge on its way to a 3-0 victory at the expense of the Red Roosters.

The 16-year-old striker latched on teammate Francis Poticano’s assist in the 31st minute and sealed the deal with a cool finish in the 62nd minute. Poticano then wrapped up the rout in the 68th minute to increase his tally to five goals this season.

Behind this win and Ateneo’s loss to UST, Southridge just needs a draw to make it to the Final Four next week.

“We’re playing Ateneo and the objective is to win. There will be a different strategy for Ateneo because we just need a draw to get into the Final Four. We have to do whatever it takes to get there. Whether it is a win or it's a draw—we have to do it. We can't afford to lose the game. That's it,” said Bonney.

The Admirals’ victory completed the perfect afternoon for them as the Junior Golden Booters bucked a slow start to prevail 3-1 at the Blue Eagles’ expense during the day’s early kickoff.

Andres Dumlao’s opener for Ateneo in the 31st minute proved to be a false dawn as Joshua Balliner equalized for UST in the 38th minute to ensure that both squads entered the break level.

Come the second half, Jessy Ramasola gave the Junior Golden Booters their first taste of the lead with an excellent finish inside the Blue Eagles’ box. UST then wrapped up the victory through John Mark Visitacion’s penalty kick in the 83rd minute.

For UST assistant coach David Basa, this performance is a good development ahead of the team’s rematch against Far Eastern University-Diliman next week as well as with the Final Four on the horizon.

“Siyempre gusto namin makabawi (sa FEU-D) pero iniisip namin ung pinaka-importante, which is (the) semi-finals,” said Basa. “Maganda siyempre kung manalo pero kailangan namin maging mautak when it comes to next game.”

Meanwhile, Jacob Keleghan and Jerriemy Biton combined to power FEU-D to a 2-0 win past DLSZ.

Keleghan broke the deadlock in the 51st minute while Biton put the ball at the back of the net again in the 74th minute from close range to extend his tally to nine goals this season.

“Surprised ako sa game ngayon kase kung pag-uusapan natin yung tactics side, hindi namin na-anticipate na mag-iiba silang way of playing nila sa formation (at) sa style,” said FEU-D coach Jake Morallo.

“Sa first (half) naalangan kami. Nahirapan kami because again nag co-compact na naman sila and, of course, they are very aggressive. Nahirapan kami makapwesto sa first half.”

Despite losing for the second straight game, the Junior Archers booked their place in the Final Four by virtue of the Junior Golden Booters’ win over the Blue Eagles.

In contrast, Claret will try to earn its first point of the season against La Salle next week in the final elimination round matchday.

FEU overwhelms Adamson in UAAP volleyball

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Standings

Team W-L

NU 4-0

UST 4-1

FEU 4-2

DLSU 3-2  

AdU 2-3

UP 2-3

Ateneo 1-3

UE 0-6

Games Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

9 a.m. - UP vs NU (Men’s)

11 a.m. - UST vs Ateneo (Men’s)

1 p.m. - UP vs NU (Women’s)

3 p.m. - UST vs Ateneo (Women’s)

Far Eastern University overcame a slow start, getting its groove in the next three sets for a 23-25, 25-15, 25-13, 25-10 win over Adamson University in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Saturday.

Wrapping up a week-long, three-match stretch, the Lady Tamaraws kept rolling, earning their third straight win for a 4-2 record at solo third, just behind the undefeated NU Lady Bulldogs and the 4-1 UST Golden Tigresses.

Building on their dominant showing in the second and third sets, the Lady Tamaraws established a 10-point, 14-4 margin midway through the fourth through the combined efforts of Chenie Tagaod and Jean Asis en route to the huge win in one hour and 46 minutes.

“Happy naman kami sa nakitang performance ng mga players. Nagbubunga na ‘yung from heartbreaking na talo sa UP. Paunti-unti nakakabalik so naipakita na nila ‘yung FEU Lady Tamaraws talaga,” said FEU assistant coach Manolo Refugia.

("We are happy with the performance we saw from the players. The lessons from our heartbreaking loss to UP are starting to bear fruit. Little by little, we are bouncing back, and they have shown what the FEU Lady Tamaraws are truly made of.")

The Lady Tamaraws, despite being equal with the Lady Falcons in the spiking department, got their lopsided win via a dominant showing in the blocking (12-1) and service categories (10-3).

Adamson also committed a whopping 32 errors compared to FEU’s 15.

“Nakakapagod ‘yung sunod sunod na games pero at the same time iniisip ng team kung ano nga ba ‘yung goal namin this season, ‘yun talaga ang nangunguna,” said Asis, who had 14 points on six attacks, five aces, and three blocks.

("The back-to-back games are exhausting, but at the same time, the team keeps thinking about our goal this season—that's what comes first.")

Gerzel Petallo showcased an all-around performance of 16 points, 15 excellent receptions and five digs, while Congo's Faida Bakanke got 13 points and seven digs.

Jazlyn Ellarina also shone with nine points built on five blocks, four more than the output of the entire Adamson team.

FEU looks to close out its first round campaign on a four-game winning run when it clashes with De La Salle University next Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Adamson, on the other hand, absorbed its second straight loss to fall to 2-3, joining University of the Philippines at fifth to sixth spots.

Shaina Nitura was the highest pointer anew for the Lady Falcons with 24 on a measly 23-of-72 clip in spikes. She also tallied 13 receptions and nine digs.

Nigeria's Frances Mordi added 12 points, 17 receptions, and 11 digs as well in the loss.

Adamson’s next game will be against defending champion National University on Wednesday, still at the same venue.

La Salle keeps UE winless in UAAP Women's Volleyball.

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

9 a.m. – UP vs NU (Men’s)

11 a.m. – UST vs Ateneo (Men’s)

1 p.m. – UP vs NU (Women’s)

3 p.m. – UST vs Ateneo (Women’s)

De La Salle University recovered after a second set slip, dominating the next two for the 25–12, 23–25, 25–14, 25–17 win over University of the East for its second straight win in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Saturday.

After giving up the second frame, the Lady Spikers entered the third with much resolve as off-the-bench Jyne Soreño provided the spark to their 13–1 blazing response.

Then in the fourth, La Salle pulled away from a 17–14 count with Alleiah Malaluan, Amie Provido, and Lilay Del Castillo contributing while UE shot itself on the foot with three errors for the four-set triumph after one hour and 57 minutes.

“Hindi naging maganda ‘yung result ng game although we won pero hindi ‘yun ‘yung gusto namin makita sa kanila. ‘Yun nga second set nakuha ng UE, nandoon na kami lamang kami pero nagrelax sila eh, parang hindi nila nirespeto, hinintay na lang nila ang UE kung magkakamali o aayaw na,” said Lady Spikers deputy coach Noel Orcullo.

(“The result of the game wasn’t great – even though we won, that’s not what we wanted to see from them. In the second set, UE took the win. We were already ahead, but they relaxed. It was as if they didn’t respect the opponent and just waited for UE to make mistakes or give up.”)

La Salle raised its record to 3–2, joiningFar Eastern University at third to fourth spots.

Rookie Mikole Reyes tossed 23 excellent sets leading to four Lady Spikers in double digits led by Angel Canino’s 20 points on 14 attacks, three blocks, and three aces she laced with 10 digs and nine receptions.

Soreño and Malaluan chipped in 12 points apiece while Provido had 11. Del Castillo and Shevana Laput also made eight points each while libero Lyka De Leon dazzled with 17 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions.

The Lady Spikers pummeled the Lady Warriors in two categories, taking a 52–33 advantage in the spiking and 15–6 edge in blocking.

“‘Yung nakita ko po nung nasa labas ako is nawala po ‘yung connection ng bawat isa. Nandoon na po sila pero bakit po bumitaw, nawala po ‘yung respeto po sa kalaban so sa third set, pinanindigan namin na mali ‘yung nagawa namin sa second set so kaya naming bumangon sa third set,” said Soreño, who had nine points in the third set alone.

(“What I saw while I was on the sidelines was that the connection between us disappeared. We were there, but why did we let go? We lost respect for our opponent. So in the third set, we made sure to correct our mistakes from the second set, proving that we could rise again.”)

La Salle will take on traditional rival Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday at the same venue. The Lady Spikers have won their last 14 meetings against the Blue Eagles.

Van Bangayan was the lone bright spot with 17 points and 11 digs as the Lady Warriors slid to 0–6.

Kayce Balingit added nine points while Khy Cepada was held to just eight points.

UE aims to end the first round on a high note on Saturday, also against Ateneo.

UE claims second spot in UAAP tennis

UAAP Season 87 Tennis Standings

Men's
UST 4-0
UE 4-1
NU 3-1
UP 3-2
Ateneo 2-3
AdU 1-5
DLSU 0-5

Women's
NU 3-0
UST 2-1
UP 2-1
DLSU 1-3
Ateneo 0-3

Ties on Sunday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center

7:30 a.m. - UST vs. UP (Women's)
7:30 a.m. - UP vs. Ateneo (Men's)
2 p.m. - NU vs. UE (Men's)
2 p.m. - DLSU vs. UST (Men's)

UNIVERSITY of the East secured its third consecutive victory, edging out Ateneo de Manila University 3-2 to claim sole possession of second place in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Tennis Tournament, Saturday at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.

Kent Morales and RJ Baje delivered the decisive win for the Red Warriors, overcoming JB Cuarto and Aidyll Ignacio 6-4, 6-4 in the second doubles match to seal the overall triumph.

UE’s Jarrell Edangga dominated Ateneo’s Gab Quintana with a commanding 6-0, 6-0 sweep in the opening singles match, setting the tone for his team.

JB Aguilar maintained the momentum for UE, battling past Stef Gurria in the third singles match with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3 victory, extending the Red Warriors’ lead to 2-0.

Ateneo responded through JD Velez, who claimed the second singles match after Marc Suson, trailing 0-3 in the second set, was forced to retire due to cramps. Velez took the win at 6-4, 3-0 (ret.).

JJ Llavore and Gian Camingue kept the Blue Eagles in contention with a gritty comeback in the first doubles match, rallying past Romeo Largo and Mark Dave Palanas. After dropping the first set 3-6, they stormed back to take the second 6-3 before clinching a dramatic 12-10 victory in the deciding super tiebreak, forcing a final match to decide the tie.

However, Morales and Baje’s composed performance in the second doubles match secured UE’s 4-1 record, while Ateneo dropped to 2-3, settling in fifth place.

Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines snapped its two-game skid with a commanding 5-0 sweep over Adamson University.

Miguel Iglupas sealed the victory for UP, defeating Angelo Rosales 6-3, 6-3 in the second singles match.

Raymund Goco set the pace for the Fighting Maroons with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 win over Adamson’s Neo Maratas in the opening singles match. Loucas Fernandez followed suit, breezing past Miecoz Candelasa with another 6-1, 6-1 triumph in the third singles match.

In doubles play, Ava Mandac and Andrei Jarata outlasted Ramon Bentillo and Tristan Correos, securing a well-earned 6-3, 6-4 victory in the second doubles match. Lance Fernandez and Aslan Carbonilla capped UP’s stellar outing, rallying from a set down to defeat Emmanuel Pedrosa and Herald Aton 5-7, 6-4, 11-9 in the first doubles match.

With the win, UP improved to a 3-2 record, tying National University for third place. Adamson, now 1-5, remained in sixth place.

The scheduled afternoon matches between National University and University of Santo Tomas in the men’s division, as well as the women’s match between NU and Ateneo, were postponed due to persistent rain.

Sunday's lineup remains unchanged.

FEU extends men’s volleyball streak to six

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Standings

FEU 6-0

UST 4-1

NU 3-1

DLSU 3-2

Ateneo 2-2

AdU 1-4

UP 1-4

UE 0-6

Games Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

9 a.m. - UP vs NU (Men’s)

11 a.m. - UST vs Ateneo (Men’s)

1 p.m. - UP vs NU (Women’s)

3 p.m. - UST vs Ateneo (Women’s)

Far Eastern University grounded Adamson University in three tight sets, 25-23, 25-20, 31-29 for its sixth straight win in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Saturday.

The Tamaraws fell behind by as much as seven in the third, 8-15, and the Soaring Falcons reached set point, 24-21.

Still, FEU persevered despite the odds, as rookie Luis Miguel, Dryx Saavedra, and Mikko Espartero drilled three straight points to force a deuce.

Jude Aguilar kept Adamson floating while Saavedra and Espartero did the same for FEU but an Aguilar attack error gave the Tamaraws the final match point that Doula Ndongala did not waste, blocking Ahmed Tahiluddin for the win in one hour and 39 minutes.

“Malayo talaga ‘yung hinabol namin, yung team chemistry ang nakita kong nadevelop namin ngayon kaya nakahabol kami, ibig sabihin ‘yung team nagmamature na,” said FEU assistant coach Rene Dulay as their team moved to 6-0, a win away from sweeping the first round.

("We really had to rally from behind, but I saw that our team chemistry has developed, which is why we were able to catch up. This means the team is maturing.")

The Tamaraws will aim for a first round sweep next Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum when they collide with the De La Salle Green Spikers.

Lefty opposite spiker Saavedra finished with 18 points on 14 attacks and four blocks, while Espartero backed him up with 14 points on 11 spikes and three blocks.

Jelord Talisayan and Lirick Mendoza also had eight points apiece in the win.

Aguilar produced 16 points as the Soaring Falcons dropped to 1-4 at joint-sixth with the UP Fighting Maroons.

Tahiluddin added 11 points while Leo Coguimbal chimed in seven points.

Adamson will return on Wednesday against defending champion National University, still at the MOA Arena.

Rain forces UST-Ateneo game postponement

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Softball Standings

AdU     3-0
UP      2-1
UST     1-1
DLSU    1-2
Ateneo  0-3

Games on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium

8 a.m. -  UP vs UST
10 a.m. - AdU vs DLSU

The UAAP Season 87 softball match between University of Santo Tomas and Ateneo de Manila University was halted at the bottom of the third inning due to rain, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Cheif umpire Jun Cruz made the call to suspend the game after an hour-long delay.

The match will be rescheduled and restarted on a yet-to-be-announced date, as determined by event sub-host Adamson University.

To mitigate the effects of extreme heat, the league has adjusted game times, beginning Saturday, with matches now set for 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Meanwhile, 11-time defending champion Adamson dominated the first game of the day, defeating University of the Philippines 12-4 in six innings.

Tuesday’s schedule will proceed as planned, with UP facing UST at 8 a.m., followed by Adamson taking on De La Salle University at 10 a.m.

Adamson stamps class in finals rematch vs UP

 

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games on Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium

8 a.m. -  UP vs UST
10 a.m. - AdU vs DLSU

ADAMSON University and University of the Philippines renewed their rivalry in a rematch of last season’s finals on Saturday, but it was still the 11-time defending champions Lady Falcons who reigned supreme anew.

Adamson flexed its offensive might to overpower UP, 12-4, in six innings, staying unbeaten in the UAAP Season 87 Softball Tournament, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Third-year third baseman Neomay Mahinay delivered a perfect 4-for-4 hitting performance, helping the 11-time reigning champions seize the solo lead ahead of their final first-round game.

Moving up as the leadoff hitter, Mahinay answered the call, much to the delight of head coach Ana Santiago, who had been looking for improved offensive execution despite back-to-back abbreviated wins.

"Ngayon, happy ako kasi sabi ko nga last time, siguro makukuha rin nila 'yung momentum nila sa paluan. Ito nga, maganda 'yung pinakita nila ngayon. Siguro kasi mas focused 'yung training namin sa hitting, 'yung lahat ng dapat naming i-adjust, in-adjust namin," said Santiago, also the concurrent RP Blu Girls head coach.

("Right now, I'm happy because, as I said last time, they might eventually find their momentum in hitting. And today, they showed a great performance. Maybe it's because we focused more on our hitting training and made all the necessary adjustments.")

Mahinay also contributed two RBIs and was at the plate when Adamson scored three of its four runs in the third inning, extending the lead to 8-3 and all but sealing the victory.

"Maganda lang nag-respond sila (sa adjustments). Namomroblema kasi ako the past two games, laging out ang aking first batter. Alam mo naman na ang first batter dapat madalas nakakatuntong agad. So, happy ako para kay Mahinay na nag-step up siya as one of the (seniors). Kailangang-kailangan kasi namin ngayon na may mag-step up talaga na 'pag nasimulan talaga may susundan. So, hopefully, kung ano 'yung ginawa namin, tuloy lang," the Adamson great added.

("They responded well to the adjustments. I was worried in the past two games because my leadoff batter kept getting out. You know that the first batter should often get on base. So, I'm happy that Mahinay stepped up as one of the seniors. We really need someone to step up right now—when one player starts strong, others will follow. So, hopefully, we just keep doing what we did today.")

Jane Marie Sigue made the most of her first-ever start for the Lady Falcons, limiting UP's normally potent offense to just four hits and two earned runs in 2.2 innings.

Season 85 Finals MVP Glory Alonzo then took over in the circle, allowing just a single hit from Martine Francisco while striking out two batters the rest of the way.

Adamson will look to complete a first-round sweep when it faces the gritty De La Salle University Lady Batters (1-2) on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Meanwhile, UP will attempt to bounce back earlier that day at 8 a.m. against University of Santo Tomas (1-1), which is still playing Ateneo de Manila University as of publishing.

The Fighting Maroons struggled offensively, with Francisco being the only player to record multiple hits, finishing with two.

The Lady Falcons also applied defensive pressure, forcing UP into four errors—an uncharacteristic showing for a team that had committed none in their previous wins over Ateneo and La Salle.

Joy Laurente took her first loss of the season after allowing eight runs—four of them earned—in the first three innings. She also surrendered five of Adamson’s 10 hits, while EM Viñas and Diane Pasco were responsible for the remaining four runs.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
AdU 4 0 4 0 1 3 x 12 10 4
UP 0 3 1 0 0 0 x 4 5 2

Green Spikers pounce on undermanned UE

c/o UAAP

Games Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

9 a.m. - UP vs NU (Men’s)
11 a.m. - UST vs Ateneo (Men’s)
1 p.m. - UP vs NU (Women’s)
3 p.m. - UST vs Ateneo (Women’s)

De La Salle University rallied from four points down in the first set, taking that momentum to the next two for a 26-24, 25-13, 25-23 win over undermanned University of the East in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.

With the Red Warriors ahead 24-20 in the opening period, Noel Kampton and MJ Fortuna scored two apiece to force a deuce before an attack error by the opponent pulled the Green Spikers ahead, 25-24.

Then senior spiker Kampton capped the comeback with a solid kill block to give La Salle a 26-24 first set.

The Green Spikers then capitalized on that momentum, taking a commanding 25-13 second after the Red Warriors lost their lone setter for this game when Dave Poquita suffered an apparent left foot injury at 5-2. He was not able to return.

“I just reminded the team na kung ano man ang magiging resulta, ilaban niyo. Whether nawala na ‘yung setter ng UE, it doesn’t mean na ibibigay na nila ‘yung laro so sabi ko keep on going,” said La Salle head coach Jose Roque after his team rose to 3-2 at solo fourth.

("I just reminded the team that whatever the result may be, fight for it. Even if UE’s setter was no longer there, it doesn’t mean they would just give up the game, so I told them to keep on going.")

Main setter Andre Bicar also did not play due to a sickness. Wing spiker Steven Aligayon played setter the rest of the way.

JJ Rodriguez’s anticipation on a floating ball gave La Salle the match point in the third before Chris Hernandez finished the game with a through-the-block hit for the win in one hour and 36 minutes.

“Thankful lang kasi nung previous games medyo low ‘yung nilalaro ko. Thankful ako kala coach kasi binigyan pa rin nila ako ng chance na ipakita ‘yung potential ko,” said transferee Fortuna, who had a game-high 13 points on 10-of-20 spikes and three blocks along with five digs.

("I'm just thankful because in the previous games, I wasn’t playing at my best. I'm grateful to the coaches for still giving me the chance to show my potential.")

Vince Maglinao, who rates himself at 90 percent healthy back from a grade 2 right ankle sprain, made his first double-digit game this season with 11 points along with eight digs as well, while Kampton ended up with eight points in two sets played.

De La Salle will next face Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday, still at the Pasay venue.

UE stayed winless in six outings. It looks to end the first round with a win when it matches up with Ateneo next Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rookie Roy Piojo paced the Red Warriors anew with 10 points while newcomer Raquim Aceron had nine points, 11 receptions, and five digs.

UST prevents NUNS sweep in Boys High School Basketball

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Standings

*NUNS 13-1
*UST 12-2
*FEU-D 9-5
*ADU 7-7
x UE 6-8
x DLSZ 6-8
x Ateneo 3-11
x UPIS 0-14
* - Final Four
x - Eliminated

Games Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre

10 a.m. – NUNS vs AdU (Boys Final Four)
12 p.m. – UST vs FEU-D (Boys Final Four)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas delivered a statement win, dismantling National University Nazareth School with a resounding 76-56 victory to shatter the Bullpups’ perfect run and force a traditional Final Four format in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Tournament, Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

With this victory, the Tiger Cubs capitalized on their second-seed finish (12-2) in the eliminations, securing a twice-to-beat advantage for the Final Four. UST will now face the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws, which dropped their final elims match to the De La Salle-Zobel Junior Archers later in the day, 71-61.

This win was also a measure of redemption for the Tiger Cubs, who had lost 60-71 to the Bullpups in their opening game on January 19.

Senegalese forward Racine Kane, who had a tough debut with just eight points on 3-of-14 shooting, 10 rebounds, five steals, and four blocks in that earlier defeat, came out swinging in this game.

Kane recorded 18 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals to deny NUNS their first elimination round sweep since Season 82 in 2019 and prevent an outright Finals berth.

Despite missing the services of Gilas Youth forward Carl Manding due to a minor ankle sprain, the win allowed UST to achieve its best finish in UAAP boys’ basketball since an 11-3 record in Season 72 in 2009.

“They deserved to win this game. 'Yon naman ang goal namin right from the start, na makakuha ng top two spot and ng twice-to-beat advantage. Nakuha na namin isang goal namin, pero our job is not done. Marami pa room for improvement and we’ll play harder dahil Final Four na ito, dadagdagan pa namin ng effort,” said Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Inigo.

UST broke the game open in the second half, turning a 33-29 halftime lead into a comfortable 55-43 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

The Tiger Cubs continued to pounce in the payoff period. A personal six-point run by co-captain Kirk Canete, a triple by Gilas Youth guard Wacky Ludovice, a layup by Kane, and another triple by Charles Bucsit extended the lead to 69-49 with 4:20 remaining.

A key factor in UST’s second-half surge was their defensive effort against Collins Akowe, the frontrunner for Best Foreign Student Athlete. Akowe, who had eight points in the first half, was held scoreless in the second half.

Koji Buenaflor continued his strong run with 14 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, and one assist, while Ludovice contributed 13 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Canete added 10 points, seven assists, and five rebounds, while Bucsit finished with eight points, five steals, and four rebounds.

Meanwhile, the loss meant that NUNS will have the chance to seek revenge and dethrone titleholder Adamson University in the Final Four — a rematch of the Season 86 Finals.

Mac Alfanta contributed 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while Migs Palanca nearly achieved a double-double with 10 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and two assists.

Akowe’s 13-game double-double streak came to an end, as he finished with eight points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks.

For DLSZ, Gilas Youth center Daja top-scored with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds, two rebounds, and one block, while co-captain Maco Dabao tallied 18 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one block. Kieffer Alas also had an efficient outing with 16 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and one block.

“That’s the game plan today, we just wanted to end with a bang, and we accomplished that. Hopefully, it’s a spring board for the next season in order to finally make the Final Four,” said Junior Archers head coach Boris Aldeguer, who steered DLSZ to a 6-8 finish for sixth place.

FEU-D, on the other hand, only had Mico Pascual as its lone double-digit scorer with 15 points and seven rebounds, while MVP frontrunner Cabs Cabonilas was limited to nine points on 2-of-9 shooting but contributed 11 rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal.

The Scores:

Fourth Game (Boys’)

UST (76) - Kane 18, Buenaflor 14, Ludovice 13, Canete 10, Bucsit 8, Esteban 6, Cinco 3, Solon 2, Vidanes 2, Bandingan 0, Acido 0, Javier 0.

NUNS (56) - Alfanta 11, Palanca 10, Akowe 8, Solomon 5, Cartel 5, Natinga 5, Locsin 4, Napa 4, Lucido 2, Figueroa 2, Pillado 0, Usop 0, Matias 0, Nepacena 0.

Quarterscores: 18-13, 33-29, 55-43, 76-56.

Fifth Game (Boys’)

DLSZ (71) - Daja 20, Dabao 18, Alas 16, Espinosa 11, Lopez 4, Thailand 2, Borrero 0, Arejola 0, Atienza 0, Favis 0, Gubat 0, Reguera 0.

FEU-D (61) - Pascual 15, Cabonilas 9, Godoy 8, Burgos 8, Esperanza 7, Maierhofer 6, Salangsang 2, Hall 2, Raneses 2, De Guzman 2, Gemao 0, Santos 0, Castilejos 0.

Quarterscores: 12-19, 27-30, 51-47, 71-61.

Ateneo sends UPIS to winless UAAP HS Basketball season

 

c/o UAAP Media Team

UNIVERSITY of the East and Ateneo de Manila University wrapped up their UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Tournament campaigns on a high note at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Thursday.

Despite missing the Final Four by just one game, the Junior Warriors stunned the Mark Esperanza-less Adamson University Baby Falcons with a wire-to-wire 69-60 victory.

Meanwhile, Jay-M Leal came up clutch, sinking a go-ahead layup to lift the Blue Eagles to a thrilling 70-69 win over upset-hungry University of the Philippines Integrated School Fighting Maroons.

The Junior Warriors fell short of a Final Four berth for the 20th consecutive year, finishing their season in fifth place with a 6-8 record.

“Frustrating kasi we were expecting na higher seed sana kami ngayon, but it’s a learning process. Hindi namin nakuha yung gusto namin, pero hindi nahihinto lahat doon. As a coach, I’m not tapping out when it comes to developing them or preparing them and of course, propelling the Junior Warriors back to the Final Four,” said second-year Junior Warriors head coach Karl Santos.

Sizco Roquid, Martin Almanza, and Dennis Dahino contributed nine points each.

On the other hand, Adamson played without lead floor general Mark Esperanza and center Jireh Tumaneng in their final elimination game before the postseason.

Baby Falcons head coach Mike Fermin opted to rest Esperanza, who averaged 16.08 points, 5.77 assists, 4.85 rebounds, and 1.62 steals in 33 minutes and 40 seconds per game, in preparation for their title defense in the playoffs.

The Baby Falcons, who finished the elims with an even 7-7 record, now await the result of the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs versus National University Nazareth School Bullpups match to determine their semifinal opponent.

If NUNS wins, Adamson will face third-seeded FEU-D in the stepladder quarterfinal. However, if UST hands the Bullpups their first loss, Adamson will face NUNS in a traditional Final Four format.

Abayon led the Baby Falcons with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Allen Perez tallied 13 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two blocks. Earl Medina struggled with his shot, scoring 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting, but contributed six rebounds, four steals, and three assists.

In the opening game, with Ateneo trailing by one after a pull-up jumper by Bruce Tubongbanua with 4.2 seconds left, Ziv Espinas attempted a potential game-winning three-pointer but missed badly.

However, Leal was in the right place at the right time, grabbing the offensive rebound and converting the game-winning putback with 1.2 seconds remaining to secure the Blue Eagles’ victory and give a fitting send-off to seniors Chris Urbina, TJ Delos Santos, and five other graduating players.

The Fighting Maroons had one final chance to end their 17-game losing streak dating back to January 14, 2024, in Season 86, but Tubongbanua failed to release his three-point attempt before the buzzer.

“Ang laking tulong nila TJ and Chris talaga sa akin. Kaya ako naiiyak kanina after the game kasi hindi ko maimagine na mawawala na sila sa team, pero I’m happy I sent them off on a strong note,” said Leal, who finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, and one block.

“Nanalo kami by one point, pero for us, a win is a win. Kahit gaano kasama yung linaro namin, just make sure gawan natin ng paraan dahil doon namin makikita yung maturity ng team namin and yung toughness namin,” added Blue Eagles head coach Ford Arao, who wrapped up his debut season with a 3-11 record for seventh place -- the lowest-ever win total for Ateneo's boys' basketball team.

Alfonso Tan contributed 15 points, five assists, two rebounds, and two steals. In their final UAAP high school game, Urbina posted 13 points, six assists, two steals, and one rebound, while Delos Santos recorded 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one block.

UPIS, after three consecutive 1-13 seasons (Seasons 82, 85, and 86), ended the tournament with a 0-14 record for the first time in 15 years. The last time the Fighting Maroons finished winless was in Season 72 back in 2010.

Season 86 Rookie of the Year Nathan Egea delivered an impressive performance with 25 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block. Tubongbanua chipped in 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, along with four rebounds and three assists.

Rocco Melicor capped his tenure with UPIS with 11 points, six assists, three rebounds, and one steal, while Jaime Gomez de Liano ended his high school career with seven points, 14 rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

The Scores:

Second Game (Boys’)

Ateneo (70) - Tan 15, Leal 15, Urbina 13, Delos Santos 12, Ymasa 8, Kaw 5, Espinas 2, Lagdamen 0, Asistio 0, Lacsamana 0, Aquino 0.

UPIS (69) - Egea 25, Tubongbanua 16, Melicor 11, Hallare 10, Gomez de Liano 7, Uvero 0, Pascual 0, Coronel 0, Hernandez 0, Poquiz 0, Gepitan 0.

Quarterscores: 20-25, 40-43, 57-53, 70-69.

Third Game (Boys’)

UE (69) - Roquid 9, Almanza 9, Dahino 9, Lorenzo 7, Bual 7, Aguas 7, Bana 6, Lagat 5, Diaz 4, Sabroso 2, Alejandro 2, Farochilen 2, Chua 0, Timbol 0, Cuevas 0, Abellar 0.

AdU (60) - Abayon 14, Perez 13, Medina 11, Sajili 7, Matilliano 5, Decatoria 4, Murillo 4, Jenodia 2, Umali 0, Garcia 0, Penafiel 0, De Jesus 0, Caspe 0.

Quarterscores: 23-14, 39-25, 56-43, 69-60.

UST completes HS Girls Basketball elims sweep

 

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Basketball Standings

UST 6-0*
NUNS 4-2*
DLSZ 2-4
Ateneo 0-6
*Finals

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas capped off a flawless elimination round campaign in dominant fashion, riding Katrina Insoy’s scoring explosion and Barby Dajao’s all-around brilliance to dismantle National University Nazareth School, 91-66, in the UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Basketball Tournament, Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

With the win, the Junior Golden Tigresses completed a six-game sweep and stamped their authority as the team to beat, entering the Finals with an average winning margin of 60.8 points per game.

Insoy fired 31 points on 10-of-17 shooting while adding five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. Dajao, on the other hand, delivered a triple-double of 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, along with a steal and a block, powering UST to another emphatic victory.

“I’m quite satisfied with how our girls played. Although we still made mistakes and had lapses, they followed our game plan and preparation. I’m very happy for them. One more thing, they played as a team, which is a huge boost for us heading into the Finals,” said UST head coach Arsenio Dysangco.

“We didn’t expect such a wide margin in this game, but we just focus on the process and improving ourselves day by day. We don’t measure ourselves against other teams; we just try to be the best versions of ourselves,” added the deputy commissioner of the Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

Holding a slim 42-34 lead at the 2:50 mark of the second quarter, UST broke the game open when Giorgina Anonuevo and Insoy combined for eight straight points, sending the Lady Bullpups into a 50-34 hole at halftime.

That proved to be all the momentum the Junior Golden Tigresses needed, as they erupted for a dominant 21-11 third quarter, highlighted by two triples from Insoy and a layup from Rhianne Perez. By the start of the fourth, UST had built a commanding 71-45 cushion, effectively sealing the win.

Perez contributed 18 points off the bench, filling the stat sheet with seven assists, six rebounds, six steals, and two blocks. Anonuevo also made an impact with 12 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.

With the loss, NUNS wrapped up the eliminations with a 4-2 record, with both losses coming at the hands of UST.

Ashley Trinidad led the Lady Bullpups with 16 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting clip while adding seven rebounds. Aubrey Lapasaran, a stalwart of Gilas Youth, struggled offensively with just 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting but contributed eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

MVP frontrunner Zaydhen Rosano came close to a triple-double with eight points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, and three steals.

The schedule for the best-of-three Finals will be announced at a later date.

The Scores:

UST (91) - Insoy 31, Perez 18, Dajao 15, Anonuevo 12, Pinuela 3, Petalcorin 3, Wenceslao 2, Abrantes 2, Banate 2, Floriendo 2, Tambawan 1, Boteros 0, Arciaga 0, Villarin 0, Pesquera 0.

NUNS (66) - Trinidad 16, Lapasaran 11, Rosano 8, Pascua 8, Badajos 7, Abong 4, Mallari 4, Singson 3, Avila 3, Katigbak 2, Sales 0, Aycardo 0.

Quarterscores: 27-22, 50-34, 71-45, 91-66.

FEU cruises past UE for fifth straight win

 

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

9 a.m. - DLSU vs UE (Men)
11 a.m. - AdU vs FEU (Men)
1 p.m. - DLSU vs UE (Women)
3 p.m. - AdU vs FEU (Women)

BENNY Martinez set the table for a well-balanced Far Eastern University attack as they cruised past University of the East, 25-16, 25-23, 25-19, to post its finest start in six years in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Martinez distributed the ball with precision, allowing multiple FEU attackers to shine as the Tamaraws improved to 5-0.

The last time FEU opened a season with five straight wins was in Season 81 (2019), when the Morayta-based side completed a first-round sweep.

“Actually, tuloy-tuloy lang ginagawa namin. Hindi kami nagsta-stop. Yung mga struggles, I think naovercome na namin, especially yung mga nagkasakit. Ang tingin namin, with a combined team effort, malaking factor ‘yon kasi with a 5-0 record, we’re still pushing para mas gumanda pa yung performance namin in the next games,” Tamaraws assistant coach Rene Dulay, who will be taking over post-game duties for the meantime as head coach Eddieson Orcullo is still recovering from an Achilles tear surgery.

(“Actually, we just keep going. We don’t stop. I think we’ve already overcome the struggles, especially with those who got sick. From our perspective, a combined team effort is a huge factor because, even with a 5-0 record, we’re still pushing to improve our performance in the next games.)

Mikko Espartero, Luis Miguel, Dryx Saavedra, and Congolese middle blocker Doula Ndongala spearheaded FEU’s offensive onslaught, capitalizing on Martinez’s steady playmaking to build a comfortable 18-13 lead in the third set.

UE attempted to mount a comeback, cutting the deficit to 20-19 after an off-speed hit from RJ Aceron, an Axel Defeo block, and a Charles Absin attack error. However, two consecutive miscues from Aceron and Steven Aligayon, followed by an ace from Amet Bituin and back-to-back blocks from Ariel Cacao, sealed the victory for FEU.

Earlier, the Red Warriors also came close in the second set, rallying from 23-17 to 23-22 behind Aceron and Aligayon. But two costly service errors from both players handed the Tamaraws a 2-0 set advantage.

It was a similar story in the opening frame, where FEU jumped to a commanding 19-7 lead, only to see UE trim it to 19-15. Still, Martinez kept the offense flowing, and the Tamaraws closed the set with a 6-1 run to take early control of the match.

“Ang nangyari, kinakausap namin sila lagi na bibigyan namin ng break lahat hangga’t maaari. Hindi one-man show lang yung kakalabasan, well-distributed dapat points yung binibigay nila. Nagawa naman namin kaya namin nakuha yung game, tsaka nagddeliver lahat kaya better ito at improving yung team right now,” Dulay added.

(“What we do is constantly remind them that we will give everyone a chance to contribute as much as possible. It shouldn’t be a one-man show—the points should be well-distributed. We were able to execute that, which is why we won the game. Everyone delivered, and that’s why the team is getting better and continuing to improve.")

FEU displayed a balanced scoring attack as Espartero led the effort with eight points and six excellent digs, while middle blocker Lirick Mendoza also scored eight points built on five attacks and three blocks.

Team captain Jelord Talisayan tallied seven points on six attacks and one block with eight excellent receptions, while Saavedra also contributed seven points on five attacks and two blocks with two excellent digs. Ndongala chipped in seven points with four blocks and three attacks.

Martinez tossed 10 excellent sets and one point, while starting libero Vennie Caballos achieved 12 excellent receptions and three excellent digs.

The Tamaraws will next face the Adamson University Soaring Falcons this Saturday at the same Pasay venue.

Meanwhile, the Red Warriors remained winless and at the bottom of the standings with a 0-5 record, marking their 12th straight defeat dating back to the second round opener of Season 86.

Aligayon scored a game-high effort of 13 points on 12 attacks and one block in the losing effort, while Aceron tallied 11 points on nine attacks and two blocks with 15 excellent receptions and three excellent digs. Roy Piojo contributed nine points, five excellent receptions, and four excellent digs.

Dave Poquito, who got the starting setter nod as Joseph Bicar felt under the weather, dished out eight excellent sets.

UE will continue its hunt for a breakthrough win when it clashes against De La Salle University on Saturday at the same venue.