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Hotshots oust FiberXers, book twice-to-beat semis advantage
The Magnolia Hotshots clinched a twice-to-beat bonus in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner's Cup as they booted out the Converge FiberXers from playoff contention, 88-80, Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum......»»
eGilas 4th in World Finals
eGilas came close to pulling the rug from under heavy favorite United States in Game 1 of the best-of-three eFIBA World Finals semis in Jonkoping, Sweden, last weekend but failed to sustain the momentum in losing both contests in the series and eventually wound up fourth after dropping a playoff for bronze to Turkey......»»
Blue Eagles give Red Warriors the boot, guaranteed of playoff for semis slot
The Ateneo Blue Eagles eliminated the gritty UE Red Warriors from UAAP Season 86 Final Four contention while assuring themselves of at least a playoff for a semis berth after an 80-74 win Wednesday......»»
Maroons rip Tigers, boost bid for twice-to-beat advantage
The UP Fighting Maroons are now assured of at least the playoff for a twice-to-beat semis advantage in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament after obliterating the UST Growling Tigers, 86-61......»»
Ateneo sweeps EAC to catch SSL semis bus
Ateneo clawed the last playoff ticket, sweeping Emilio Aguinaldo College with a 25-13, 25-20, 25-16 win as the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship elimination round drew to a close......»»
Gilas women eye stunner vs New Zealand for historic semis berth
Gilas Pilipinas women will shoot for another piece of history when they tangle with New Zealand in a playoff debut in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division A Friday......»»
Eagles keep Ateneo afloat
With its fancied women’s team already out, the men’s squad is left as the last team standing for the vaunted volleyball program of Ateneo de Manila University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85. The hopes of salvaging their school pride in this centerpiece sport now rests on the shoulders of the Blue Eagles after their women’s squad missed the Final Four for the first time in 14 years. Ateneo head coach Timmy Sto. Tomas and the rest of the team would rather not think too much of the plight of their women’s counterparts and just focus on their task at hand. He said they do not want any added pressure as they work hard to keep its semis bid alive. “It’s not really an added pressure. The women’s team, they have their own goal and we have our own goal. We just have to manage our expectations,” Sto. Tomas said. “Because if we dwell too much on what happened to our women’s team it will be an added pressure on our end.” After all, even the Blue Eagles are in a precarious position in their Final Four campaign in what turned out to be a difficult year for the school’s volleyball program. “So as much as possible we try to focus on what’s happening on our team. We don’t treat it as pressure but motivation so that our volleyball program will still have a team heading to the Final Four. It’s more of a motivation rather than pressure.” Ateneo pumped life into its flickering semis hopes after beating De La Salle University in a marathon contest, 22-25, 25-19, 26-28, 25-20, 15-13, last Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena behind the career night of Ken Batas. Batas did justice for the Blue Eagles as he dropped 30 points for their seventh win in 13 games tied with the Green Spikers and Far Eastern University in a three-way tie at third to fifth. Three-peat-seeking and undefeated National University and second-running University of Santo Tomas secured the top two spots armed with twice-to-beat advantages. Ateneo, which advanced to the next round in the previous six seasons, faces the daunting task of bringing NU on Saturday to better its chances of securing if not assuring at least a playoff for a semis ticket. “We want to get in the Final Four. We have to play really well against NU, especially since they’re unbeaten. We don’t want our fate to be determined by the remaining games of other teams,” Sto. Tomas said. A loss would push the Blue Eagles to the brink of elimination. A defeat coupled with wins by La Salle and FEU against University of the East and Adamson University, respectively, would show the Blue Eagles the exit door marking the first time Ateneo won’t have any team in the semis since 2014. “We have to work hard to keep our semis fate in our hands,” the mentor added. The post Eagles keep Ateneo afloat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lady Spikers go for twice-to-beat
League-leading De La Salle University sets its sights on securing a Final Four twice-to-beat advantage in a clash with Adamson University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Ahead of the pack sporting a 10-1 win-loss record, the Lady Spikers only need to hurdle the Lady Falcons in their 2 p.m. encounter to assure themselves of a Top 2 finish with just two weeks left before the elimination round closes. On the other hand, Adamson, which shares the second to fourth spot in the standings with an 8-3 card tied with idle University of Santo Tomas and defending champion National University, shoots for a semis berth. La Salle bounced back mightily from a sorry four-set setback at the hands of UST before the Holy Week break with a convincing, 25-15, 25-16, 25-16, win over University of the Philippines last Sunday. Rookie Angel Canino is expected to show the same aggressiveness she displayed in the Lady Spikers’ first round win over the Adamson, 22-25, 25-14, 25-16, 25-19, last 19 March when she dropped 21 points. Aside from Canino and usual scorers Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma and Jolina dela Cruz, La Salle has also a new weapon in rookie opposite spiker Shevana Laput. The 6-foot-1 winger made an immediate impact in her first start last game as she poured in nine points. But despite their height and depth advantage and with the semis bonus within reach, Lady Spikers assistant coach Noel Orcullo doesn’t want his players to look too far ahead. “We need to continue the right things we are doing. Just take it one game at a time. Our mindset right now is to finish the second round the right way,” he said. The Lady Falcons are fresh from a 25-16, 25-19, 20-25, 27-25, victory over University of the East last Saturday. Adamson will rely on Kate Santiago, Trisha Tubu, Lorene Toring and setter Louie Romero to get back at La Salle. Meanwhile, Far Eastern University tries to salvage its semis bid in a must-win game against Ateneo de Manila University at 12 p.m. Holding a 5-6 card, the Lady Tamaraws need to sweep all of their remaining three games wish that one from the Lady Falcons, Tigresses and Lady Bulldogs won’t reach nine wins to force a playoff for the last Final Four seat. FEU beat Ateneo in five sets in the first round. Both teams are coming off setbacks with the Lady Tamaraws bowing down to the Lady Bulldogs in straight sets while the Blue Eagles missed the semis for the first time in 14 years after losing to the Tigresses in four frames. A win by Ateneo (4-7) will put the semis race to a close. In men’s play, Ateneo (5-6) and FEU (6-5) at 10 a.m. while La Salle (6-5) and Adamson (1-10) meet at 4 p.m. The post Lady Spikers go for twice-to-beat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Laput makes heads turn
Rookie Shevana Laput did not disappoint on her first start for De La Salle University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament. Fresh from a long Holy Week break, the semifinals-bound Lady Spikers turned to the Filipino-Australian recruit for points at the opposite position during their clinical 25-15, 25-16, 25-16 win over University of the Philippines on Sunday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The 6-foot-1 Laput, who saw limited minutes in La Salle’s first 10 games, produced nine points to help her squad get back on the winning track after seeing its nine-game winning streak snapped before the long lull. Long-time Lady Spikers assistant coach Noel Orcullo was not surprised at all with Laput’s output. La Salle did not waste time in developing Laput during the break as an added weapon on the wing to give head coach Ramil de Jesus another opposite spiker option besides veteran Baby Jyne Soreno with Leila Cruz sidelined for the rest of the season due to a right knee injury she sustained at the start of the second round. “Actually, we expected that performance from her since we focused on preparing her for the role during the Holy Week. So, we really expected her to deliver,” Orcullo said. Laput expressed gratitude for the trust given to her despite being one of the new members of the Lady Spikers, who are eyeing to reclaim the crown it last held back in 2018. “It feels great. It just shows that I developed and improved as a player and the coaches trust my abilities to have me play in the first six. It's great and it's an honor,” Laput said. The towering spiker played an inspired game with her family including brother James, who plays for Magnolia Hotshots in the Philippine Basketball Association, watching live. “It's a great feeling that my family is supporting me. My mom and my little sister, actually, surprised me this week. They came on Thursday. It's their first time watching a live game,” the head-turner said. “I'm definitely nervous having them there supporting me, it feels like I need to perform (well). It's a great feeling to know that your family is there supporting you.” With its 13th straight Final Four appearance secured, La Salle now shifts its sights on clinching a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis. The Lady Spikers battle Adamson University on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena to assure themselves of at least a playoff for a Final Four bonus. After that La Salle will face Ateneo de Manila University on 23 April before wrapping up the elimination round against winless University of the East on 29 April. Orcullo bared La Salle’s coaching staff has been preparing Laput to play a much bigger role in the coming games. “We need to build her confidence with the second round drawing to a close,” he said. “So that heading into the semifinals and hopefully in the finals, she will have that confidence in her and that anytime her number is called she’ll be able to deliver.” The post Laput makes heads turn appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NU boosts semis bid
Games Wednesday: (Mall of Asia Arena) 10 a.m. — FEU vs Ateneo (men’s) 12 p.m. — FEU vs Ateneo (women’s) 2 p.m. — La Salle vs Adamson (women’s) 4 p.m. — La Salle vs Adamson (men’s) Defending champion National University narrowed the Final Four race after a convincing win over Far Eastern University, 25-21, 25-14, 25-23, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The Lady Bulldogs assured themselves of at least a playoff for a semis seat with their third straight win that put them in a three-way tie at the second spot together with idle University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University with an 8-3 win-loss record. Alyssa Solomon showed the way in NU’s win that gifted league-leading De La Salle University an automatic ticket to its 13th straight Final Four appearance while booting out Ateneo de Manila University (4-7) of contention. Solomon, the reigning Best Opposite Spiker, dropped 18 points, including 17 attacks. “I’m happy with the result and, at the same time, we still have a lot to improve on. We should never be tired of learning. We also need to be confident every game,” Solomon said as she and skipper Ces Robles faced the media after head coach Karl Dimaculangan declined to grant an interview for the third straight time. Season 84 Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year Bella Belen got 14 points and accounted for 13 of the Lady Bulldogs’ 48 attack points while freshman Vange Alinsug chipped in with 12 markers, 12 digs and two excellent receptions. The Lady Tamaraws were pushed to the brink of elimination in the semis race as they slid to a 5-6 card but not after giving the Lady Bulldogs a scare in the third set. ‘I’m happy with the result and, at the same time, we still have a lot to improve on. We should never be tired of learning. We also need to be confident every game.’ FEU took a 23-21 lead on a Jovelyn Fernandez hit followed by a Solomon attack error. Back-to-back errors by the Lady Tamaraws tied the set at 23 before Belen and Robles sealed the sweep with consecutive attacks. Fernandez and Chenie Tagaod had seven markers each to lead the Morayta-based squad. The Lady Tamaraws still have an outside chance of making it to the semis if they win their last three games in the eliminations and pray that one from UST, Adamson and NU won’t reach nine wins to force a playoff for the last Final Four seat. FEU will face Ateneo, who missed the semis for the first time in 14 years, on Wednesday. In men’s play, three-peat-seeking and unbeaten Bulldogs grabbed a Final Four twice-to-beat advantage after beating the Tamaraws, 28-26, 25-21, 26-28, 25-23, for their 11th straight win. Buds Buddin led four other NU players in double figures with 24 points with all but one coming from attacks and had 22 excellent receptions. Nico Almendras and Kennry Malinis got 17 and 13 markers, respectively, while Obed Mukaba and Gerard Diao finished with 12 each for the Bulldogs’ 29th straight win overall since 2019. “It was a great game. Both teams gave their best, it’s just that we were able to exploit our advantage. Hopefully, we’ll be able to sustain our momentum in our next game,” NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin said. The Bulldogs’ win drew the team to just three more wins to complete an elimination sweep for an outright Finals berth. A sweep by NU will force a step-ladder semifinals. The post NU boosts semis bid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NU boosts semis bid
Games Wednesday: (Mall of Asia Arena) 10 a.m. -- FEU vs Ateneo (men’s) 12:00 p.m. -- FEU vs Ateneo (women’s) 2 p.m. -- La Salle vs Adamson (women’s) 4 p.m. -- La Salle vs Adamson (men’s) Defending champion National University narrowed the Final Four race after a convincing win over Far Eastern University, 25-21, 25-14, 25-23, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The Lady Bulldogs assured themselves of at least a playoff for a semis seat with their third straight win that put them in a three-way tie at the second spot together with idle University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University with an 8-3 win-loss record. Alyssa Solomon showed the way in NU’s win that gifted league-leading De La Salle University an automatic ticket to its 13th straight Final Four appearance while booting out Ateneo de Manila University (4-7) of contention. Solomon, the reigning Best Opposite Spiker, dropped 18 points, including 17 attacks. “I’m happy with the result and, at the same time, we still have a lot to improve on. We should never be tired of learning. We also need to be confident every game,” Solomon said as she and skipper Ces Robles faced the media after head coach Karl Dimaculangan declined to grant an interview for the third straight time. Season 84 Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year Bella Belen got 14 points and accounted for 13 of the Lady Bulldogs’ 48 attack points while freshman Vange Alinsug chipped in with 12 markers, 12 digs and two excellent receptions. The Lady Tamaraws were pushed to the brink of elimination in the semis race as they slid to a 5-6 card but not after giving the Lady Bulldogs a scare in the third set. FEU took a 23-21 lead on a Jovelyn Fernandez hit followed by a Solomon attack error. Back-to-back errors by the Lady Tamaraws tied the set at 23 before Belen and Robles sealed the sweep with consecutive attacks. Fernandez and Chenie Tagaod had seven markers each to lead the Morayta-based squad. The Lady Tamaraws still have an outside chance of making it to the semis if they win their last three games in the eliminations and pray that one from UST, Adamson and NU won’t reach nine wins to force a playoff for the last Final Four seat. FEU will face Ateneo, who missed the semis for the first time in 14 years, on Wednesday. In men’s play, three-peat-seeking and unbeaten Bulldogs grabbed a Final Four twice-to-beat advantage after beating the Tamaraws, 28-26, 25-21, 26-28, 25-23, for their 11th straight win. Buds Buddin led four other NU players in double figures with 24 points with all but one coming from attacks and had 22 excellent receptions. Nico Almendras and Kennry Malinis got 17 and 13 markers, respectively, while Obed Mukaba and Gerard Diao finished with 12 each for the Bulldogs’ 29th straight win overall since 2019. "It was a great game. Both teams gave their best, it’s just that we were able to exploit our advantage. Hopefully, we’ll be able to sustain our momentum in our next game," NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin said. The Bulldogs’ win drew the team to just three more wins to complete an elimination sweep for an outright Finals berth. A sweep by NU will force a step-ladder semifinals. The post NU boosts semis bid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lady Spikers down Lady Tams, clinch playoff for semis spot
Led by Angel Canino's 16 points, La Salle battled back from an early 1-6 deficit with a victory in the extended opening set......»»
Magis, Cavs boost bids
Judiciary and Armed Forces of the Philippines earned at least a playoff for a semis berth in the 9th UNTV Cup with their respective wins Sunday at the Novadeci Convention Center in Quezon City......»»
F2 targets outright semis slot
F2 Logistics shoots for an outright semifinal berth as it tackles Army Black Mamba while PLDT tries to close in on a semis ticket when it meets Cignal today in the PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Center......»»
Archers, Falcons in playoff for No. 4 spot
La Salle stayed alive while Adamson fumbled a chance in contrasting results, setting up a knockout match for the fourth and last seat in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball semis yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum......»»
Blue Eagles lock in top seed; Falcons, Archers forge playoff for last semis spot
After squandering a lead as big as 15 points, Ange Kouame converted on a clutch basket to push Ateneo's lead to three, 64-61, with 35.3 ticks left in the game......»»
Petro Gazz Vander Weide eager to face Creamline again in PVL semis
After losing their match up in the preliminaries in four sets back in October, the American hitter targets a bounce-back win when it matters most......»»
Crossovers stop Angels& rsquo; run, clinch semis playoff
Ilocos Norte – Exuding confidence coming off a big victory the last time out, Chery Tiggo took control of Petro Gazz in the first two sets then rallied in the next to essay a 25-18, 25-20, 25-22 triumph and assure itself of at least a playoff for a semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference here yesterday......»»
Sixers outlast Hawks, force Game 7 in NBA Eastern semis
LOS ANGELES – Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers played with more urgency on Friday, using a collective offensive effort to come from behind and force a game seven in their second-round NBA playoff series. Tobias Harris and Seth Curry each scored 24 points and Embiid tallied 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the […] The post Sixers outlast Hawks, force Game 7 in NBA Eastern semis appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Bolts seek payback vs Gin Kings in semis
Can Barangay Ginebra beat the Meralco Bolts in a playoff series without import Justin Brownlee?.....»»