All news tagged volleyball

The Fighting Maroons snapped defending champion National University’s perfect run, clawing their way back from the brink to pull off a 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-12 victory on Wednesday afternoon, March 26, at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

UP’s fiery start in the opening set proved crucial as they erased NU’s 24-23 advantage with three straight points, including two clutch attacks from Niña Ytang and an error from Alyssa Solomon. 

Petro Gazz secured the final slot in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference semifinals after decisively sweeping feisty ZUS Coffee in a must-win Game 3 on Tuesday, March 25, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The Angels cruised to victory with a straight-sets victory, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23.

With this triumph, Petro Gazz joins defending champions Creamline, along with Choco Mucho and Akari, in the round-robin semifinals. The two teams with the best records will then advance to the best-of-three finals to determine the league champion.

Despite cruising through the first two sets, Petro Gazz faced strong resistance in the third, as the young and determined Thunderbelles fought to extend the match. However, the Angels maintained their composure when it mattered most.

ZUS Coffee delivered a shocking sweep of Petro Gazz, 25-21, 25-23, 27-25, in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals on Tuesday night, March 18, at the PhilSports Arena. 

The victory not only snapped the Angels’ 10-game winning streak but also pushed the Thunderbelles to the verge of their first-ever semifinal appearance. 

In one of their most balanced performances yet, five players scored in double digits, proving their depth and teamwork against an established PVL contender.

Setter Cloanne Mondoñedo orchestrated the offense brilliantly with 19 excellent sets, while Chai Troncoso led all scorers with 14 markers. Thea Gagate and Jovelyn Gonzaga tallied 11 apiece, while Mich Gamit and Chinnie Arroyo contributed 10 each in a well-rounded attack.

The Thunderbelles also dominated at the net, recording 11 blocks compared to Petro Gazz’s five. Troncoso anchored the defense with five kill blocks, while Gagate added three.

Creamline is just one win away from securing yet another semifinal appearance in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference after a commanding straight-sets victory over Chery Tiggo, 25-10, 27-25, 25-21, on Tuesday, March 18, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.  

Adding to the celebration, the victory marked a personal milestone for head coach Sherwin Meneses, who earned his 100th career win with Creamline.

“We’re thankful for the management’s support. Our goal is always to keep winning,” Meneses said after the match.  

From the get-go, Alyssa Valdez and Jema Galanza set the pace for Creamline, launching an offensive onslaught that overwhelmed the Crossovers in the opening frame. 

Valdez made an immediate impact, delivering three straight points early in the first set, while Bea de Leon kept the momentum going with powerful spikes that left their opponents struggling to respond. 

Chery Tiggo showed resilience in the second set, with Shaya Adorador leading the charge. However, just when the Crossovers seemed poised to steal the frame, Pangs Panaga came through with a clutch block to seal it for Creamline.

The third set saw Chery Tiggo attempt another fightback, led by Pauline Gaston and Cess Robles. However, Creamline’s defense held firm, with De Leon and Seth Rodriguez battling at the net. Ultimately, the Cool Smashers prevailed without dropping a set.

Rookie sensation Shaina Nitura made history with a record-breaking 38-point performance, but Adamson still fell short in a grueling five-set loss to the University of the Philippines (UP) in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, March 16.

Despite Nitura’s dominant display of 35 kills and three aces, the Lady Falcons suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, closing the first round with a tough 15-25, 25-15, 26-24, 22-25, 10-15 loss.  

Her scoring feat surpassed the previous UAAP record of 35 points held by Ateneo de Manila University’s Alyssa Valdez (Season 75, 2013) and University of Santo Tomas’s Sisi Rondina (Season 81, 2019). 

However, the disappointment was evident as the 20-year-old Adamson star remained in the dugout for hours after the match and declined media interviews, with head coach JP Yude also refusing to speak.  

Nitura, who also tallied 15 excellent receptions, had already cemented her place in Adamson history by tying Angela Bengting’s 33-point school record in her debut against Ateneo last month.

National University (NU) reaffirmed its dominance in both men’s and women’s volleyball, securing crucial victories over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) to close the first round of the UAAP Season 87 tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 16.

The University of the Philippines (UP) capped off the UAAP Season 87 first round with crucial victories in both men’s and women’s volleyball, overcoming Adamson University’s standout performances at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 16.

Zus Coffee secured a quarterfinal spot in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, while Nxled ended its campaign on a high note with a dominant win, as both teams wrapped up their play-in matches on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.  
 

De La Salle University asserted its dominance in UAAP Season 87 volleyball, securing victories in both the men’s and women’s divisions against archrival Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday, March 12, at the SM Mall of Asia.

In the women’s match, Shevana Laput delivered a career-high performance, scoring 25 points to lead the Lady Spikers to a 25-15, 25-14, 20-25, 25-19 victory.

With 19 attacks, three blocks, and three aces, Laput spearheaded La Salle’s third consecutive win, improving their record to 4-2. Angel Canino contributed 17 markers, while rookie setter Mikole Reyes recorded 20 excellent sets.

Despite Ateneo taking the third set and an early 8-4 lead in the fourth, La Salle regained control behind Laput’s explosive plays, sealing the win after two hours and 14 minutes. The victory marked the Lady Spikers’ 15th straight win over Ateneo since the Season 79 Finals in 2017.

National University continued its strong run in the UAAP Season 87 volleyball tournament, securing victories in both the men’s and women’s divisions against Adamson University on Wednesday, March 12, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The NU Lady Bulldogs maintained their unbeaten record, cruising past the Lady Falcons in straight sets, 25-21, 25-23, 25-18. Now at 6-0, they are just one win away from sweeping the first round, with a finals rematch against University of Santo Tomas set for Sunday, March 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.  

Alyssa Solomon led the charge with 22 points, while Vange Alinsug and Bella Belen added valuable contributions. Alinsug registered 12 markers, four receptions, and two digs, while Belen tallied nine points, 12 digs, and five receptions.

Despite Adamson taking a 20-16 lead in the second set, NU’s composure prevailed, with Solomon and Alinsug sparking a late comeback. The Lady Bulldogs then dominated the third set, closing the match with a 7-1 finishing run led by two-time MVP Belen, Solomon, and Alinsug.

The Philippines will have three teams competing in the AVC Women’s Champions League as the host country, with PLDT joining Creamline and Petro Gazz in the tournament.

Just hours before the official draw in Bangkok, Thailand, the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) awarded the Philippines an additional slot for the inaugural club competition, set to take place from April 20 to 27 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig. 

Creamline and Petro Gazz were the first to qualify for the tournament after finishing at the top of the preliminary round in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference and advancing to the quarterfinals.

ZUS Coffee delivered a clutch performance in the decisive fifth set, showing composure, resilience, and timely execution to edge out Cignal in a thrilling five-set battle, 19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Play-In Tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday, March 11.

“We’re very happy, but there’s a bit of frustration since we could have closed it out in the fourth set. Still, we held on in the fifth, so we’re happy,” said Thunderbelles head coach Jerry Yee.  

Cignal made a late push in the deciding frame, cutting ZUS Coffee’s lead to 13-12 after a block from Jackie Acuña on Jovelyn Gonzaga and an attack error by Michelle Gamit.

However, former HD Spiker Chai Troncoso rose to the occasion, delivering two consecutive clutch hits to seal the victory. She finished with 21 points, including 15 attacks, four aces, and two blocks, while also recording 17 excellent receptions.  

ZUS Coffee seemed poised to close out the match in four sets, holding a dominant 12-3 lead early and an 18-11 advantage midway. But Cignal mounted a strong comeback, led by Vanie Gandler and Ishie Lalongisip, forcing a deciding set.

Chery Tiggo secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference after battling past a resilient Farm Fresh team in a hard-fought four-set match, 29-27, 15-25, 25-22, 25-21, at the Philsports Arena on Tuesday, March 12.

The Crossovers needed two hours and seven minutes to overcome the determined Foxies, who pushed them at every turn. However, Chery Tiggo’s experience and composure in crucial moments made the difference, setting up a best-of-three quarterfinal clash with reigning champions Creamline.

Ateneo de Manila University and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) split victories in the UAAP Season 87 volleyball tournament on Sunday, March 9, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, with the Blue Eagles stunning the Golden Spikers in the men’s division, while the Golden Tigresses swept Ateneo’s women’s volleyball team.

In the men’s match, Ateneo ended UST’s four-game winning streak with a 25-20, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21 victory, spoiling the return of two-time MVP Josh Ybañez.

The Blue Eagles pulled away late in the fourth set to secure the win, improving to a 3-2 record and tying De La Salle University in fourth place.

"Every team we face moving forward is a top team. All the teams in the UAAP are strong and capable of being champions," said Ateneo head coach Vince Mangulabnan.

"We have to prepare for them the same way every game—regardless of who they are or what their ranking is, even if they were to play at the world level. Our mindset should always be that we're facing a top-caliber opponent so that we don’t become complacent,” he added, emphasizing the importance of preparation moving forward.

Ken Batas led Ateneo with game-high 21 points while Amil Pacinio and Jian Salarzon provided support by putting up 17 and 12 markers, respectively.

National University (NU) asserted its dominance in the UAAP Season 87 volleyball tournament, securing victories in both the men’s and women’s division against the University of the Philippines (UP) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, March 9.

After dominating the first two sets, the Bulldogs struggled in the third, allowing UP to build a commanding 12-5 lead and eventually force a fourth set. 

However, NU regained control in the final frame, breaking an 18-18 tie with a decisive 4-0 run to defeat the Fighting Maroons,  25-12, 25-15, 15-25, 25-22, improving to a 4-1 record in the men’s tournament.

NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin admitted that unforced errors cost them the third set, saying, “We lost our momentum whenever we gained it.” 

He emphasized also the importance of confidence in the fourth set, ensuring the team played with certainty and avoided self-doubt.  

Buds Buddin led the charge with 22 points, while Leo Aringo and Leo Ordiales added 16 and 14 markers, respectively. 

Akari staged a thrilling comeback from a two-set deficit to clinch a hard-fought victory over Farm Fresh in five sets, 25-11, 23-25, 18-25, 25-15, 15-9, on Tuesday, March 4, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig. 

With the win, the Chargers advanced to the quarterfinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.

Ivy Lacsina delivered a stellar performance, earning Best Player of the Game honors after leading Akari with 22 points, built on 21 attacks and one block. She also contributed four excellent digs and four excellent receptions, showcasing her all-around game.

Making her much-anticipated return after missing most of the preliminaries due to a hand strain, Grethcel Soltones provided an immediate boost, finishing with 11 points, including three consecutive clutch hits in the final set.

PLDT secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference after overcoming ZUS Coffee in a hard-fought match, 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 26-24, on Tuesday night, March 4, at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. 

Head coach Rald Ricafort acknowledged the challenge posed by ZUS Coffee, led by coach Jerry Yee, stating that their opponents surprised them in the opening set. 

However, he was pleased with his team’s ability to recover and execute well, especially in the crucial moments of the fourth set.  

De La Salle University (DLSU) got back on track with a four-set victory over the University of the Philippines (UP), winning 25-22, 24-26, 25-18, 25-17 in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, March 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“There’s no weak team in the UAAP today. Every game you play is a challenge,” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo in Filipino. “Every team plays a high level so you cannot say that the opponent is weak, that's why you need to overcome whatever it is that your opponent is going to throw at you.”

Angel Canino led the way for the Lady Spikers with 24 points, scoring 20 off attacks and adding four blocks. 

Shevana Laput provided strong support with 21 points from 15 kills, three blocks, and three aces. Lilay del Castillo also contributed with 11 points, including four blocks and two aces.

Far Eastern University (FEU) snapped its losing streak by outlasting Ateneo de Manila University, 25-15, 20-25, 25-17, 24-26, 15-11, in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, March 2, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Coach Tina Salak expressed satisfaction with her team’s performance but emphasized the need for consistent readiness. “It was a convincing win, but we want to push them further so that by the second round, we’re fully prepared to fight back against all the struggles we’re facing now,” she said.  

FEU’s strong net defense played a crucial role in the win, dominating Ateneo in blocks with a 20-2 advantage. The victory improved their record to 2-2 after back-to-back defeats.  

Gerzel Petallo led the Lady Tamaraws with 18 points, including 14 attacks and four blocks, while also contributing 14 excellent receptions. 

Ateneo extended the match to a fifth set after Petallo leveled the fourth frame at 24 with a precise drop ball. However, Lyann de Guzman answered with a strong attack that deflected off an FEU defender’s hand, securing the point after a successful block touch challenge.

Yvana Sulit then stepped up with a crucial service ace, forcing a deciding set.  

Defending champion National University (NU) held off a resilient Far Eastern University (FEU) in a thrilling-five set match, winning 25-15, 23-25, 24-26, 25-23, 15-8, to remain unbeaten in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, February 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

After dropping the second and third sets to the Lady Tamaraws, Alyssa Solomon took charge, leading the Lady Bulldogs in the fourth set to a 24-21 advantage.

FEU's Faida Bakanke and Jaz Ellarina narrowed the gap, but Bakanke's final attack went out of bounds, and a video challenge failed to overturn the call.

Solomon carried her momentum into the fifth set, while Bella Belen contributed with a crucial ace and a net touch violation by FEU, giving NU an 8-3 lead. Erin Pangilinan extended the lead to 12-7, sealing the win with her signature finger-wag celebration.

Solomon finished with 23 points, including 19 kills and four blocks, while Belen added 21 markers, including 13 attacks and seven aces. Vange Alinsug also contributed 19 points and 15 excellent receptions, while setter Lams Lamina dished out 23 excellent sets.