Fil-Ams, Brazilian coach beef up Philippine men s volleyball for SEA Games
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) announced their inclusion to the team on Saturday, with a press conference at the Golden Bay Fresh Seafoods Restaurant in Pasay City......»»
NU Lady Bulldogs will get 8 slots on national volley team
At least eight players from National University will see action for the new Philippine women’s volleyball team set to participate in three international tournaments this year. Newly-appointed head coach Norman Miguel told Daily Tribune on Sunday that the team has already committed to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s call for the formation of a new national squad. The Lady Bulldogs, who finished runners-up in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85, have already withdrawn their participation in the coming Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals later this month. “We are not participating in the SSL Invitational because NU players committed to PNVF National Women’s Team tournaments this August,” Miguel said. Brazilian head coach Jorge Souza de Brito will select the Lady Bulldogs that will compose the majority of the national team competing in the two legs of the ASEAN Grand Prix in Da Lat, Vietnam and Chiang Mai, Thailand next month. The Nationals will also play in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Asian Sr. Women’s Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand opening on 2 September. “It’s not the whole NU team. I think at least eight players from NU will be part of the National Team to play in the Grand Prix in Vietnam and Thailand and the AVC Asian Senior Women’s in Thailand also,” Miguel said. “But as of this time (we don’t know who will be selected yet), probably when we start the training that’s the time Coach Jorge and the other coaches will decide who will be included in the roster. But most probably it would include the core of NU’s first six.” UAAP Season 84 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, setter Lams Lamina, Sheena Toring, Vangie Alinsug and Erin Pangilinan are expected to be included in the list of names for the national team. It will be the second time that the PNVF and NU will strike a national team partnership after the botched 2022 squad that was supposed to join the Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup which the country hosted last year. The federation released 12 of the NU players included in the 14-woman Nationals due to ‘commitment issues.’ Club team Creamline replaced the dissolved national squad. It is uncertain, however, if the new national team will also be representing the country in the Hangzhou Asian Games slated to run from 28 September to 8 October. The post NU Lady Bulldogs will get 8 slots on national volley team appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl lady spikers face Cambodians
The Philippines could take advantage of a favorable schedule in Group B to build momentum in its mission to end an 18-year podium drought in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games women’s volleyball competition in Cambodia next month. Pitted against the host team to start the hostilities on 9 May, the seasoned Filipinas are the overwhelming favorites facing the Cambodians who are making a debut in the division since the country joined the biennial meet in 1961. Driven by the success of its men’s team which won bronze in last year’s pandemic-delayed Hanoi SEA Games, Cambodia decided to field a fledgling women’s squad hoping to get a good result on home soil. “We are ambitious, so we want to be well prepared and take the opportunity to enter women’s teams (indoor and beach volleyball) for the first time at the SEA Games. We believe the technical skills of our players will be close to the top teams – and certainly better than some nations in the region,” a confident Volleyball Federation of Cambodia secretary-general Aing Serey Piseth said in an interview with the Phnom Penh Post. But the battle-tested Pinay Spikers are sure to exploit all their advantages in skills, experience, and firepower to give the still wet-behind-the-ears Cambodians a rude welcome to jumpstart their campaign to win a medal for the first time since claiming bronze in the 2005 Manila edition. Game time is set at 7:30 p.m. (Cambodia time) at the Morodok Techo Elephant Hall. The Nationals, who finished fourth in the previous contest, hope to use a win against the home team as springboard when they face last edition’s silver medalist Vietnam on 10 May. The Philippine team, skippered by Alyssa Valdez, will wrap up the group stage against underdog Singapore on 11 May. Bracketed in Group A are defending champion Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar. The top two teams in the group stage will face off in the crossover semifinals. The Nationals are currently in Japan for a two-week training camp which will wrap up on 28 April. Joining Valdez in the 14-woman roster handled by Brazilian head coach Jorge Souza de Brito are her Creamline teammates Tots Carlos, setter Jia Morado-de Guzman, Ced Domingo, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabo and libero Klya Atienza. Also in the squad are Chery Tiggo’s Mylene Paat, Gel Cayuna and Chai Troncoso of Cignal, Dell Palomata of PLDT, and Choco Mucho’s Cherry Nunag and Kat Tolentino and Akari’s defense specialist Bang Pineda, a last-minute replacement for injured PLDT libero Kath Arado. Meanwhile, the men’s national team opens its campaign on 3 May against defending champion Indonesia in Group A. Inserted in the group of death following a re-draw, the Filipinos will then take on Cambodia on 4 May before squaring off against Singapore on 6 May. The post Phl lady spikers face Cambodians appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Men spikers land in ‘Group of Death’
The Philippine men’s volleyball team faces the daunting task after landing in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ in the 32nd Phnom Penh Southeast Asian Games next month following a re-draw last Tuesday. Left out in the initial draw held last 5 April due to a clerical oversight in the submission of entries, the Filipinos were granted permission by the organizers and the seven participating teams to join the competition. However, the Nationals were inserted into dangerous Group A joined by defending champion Indonesia, Cambodia which won bronze in last year’s pandemic-delayed Hanoi Games, and Singapore in the biennial meet slated to officially open on 5 May. The Filipinos, who took silver in the 2019 Manila SEA Games, battle three-peat-seeking Indonesia in the tournament opener on 3 May – two days before the opening ceremonies. Bracketed in Group B are last edition's silver medalist Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar. Cambodia Southeast Asia Games Organizing Committee announced the inclusion of the national men’s team following the agreement of the Volleyball Federation of Cambodia and all the National Olympic Committees of the seven participating teams to a re-draw. “The process was simplified and done quickly,” Philippine National Volleyball Federation secretary-general Don Caringal said. The Philippine Olympic Committee admitted its fault in the oversight and appealed to the organizers for a re-draw which was permitted given that other participating countries agree to the team’s inclusion and participation. The re-draw was decided on 14 April. The Filipinos under Brazilian head coach Sergio Valadares Veloso are currently in Japan for a 15-day training camp in Osaka. Vince Mangulabnan skippers the squad along with Jau Umandal, who was instrumental in the team’s silver finish four years ago, Kim Dayandante, Vince Patrick Lorenzo, Jayvee Sumagaysay, Rwenzmel Taguibolos, Leo Ordiales, Manuel Sumanguid III, Steven Charles Rotter, Cyrus Justin De Guzman, Michael Raymund Vicente, 18-year-old Jade Disquitado and college players Lloyd Josafat and Jay Rack dela Noche. The national team will fly back to Manila on 23 April before heading to Cambodia at the end of this month. The post Men spikers land in ‘Group of Death’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
TOP GAN — JGFP’s dynamic chief steers jungolf to new heights
There’s a big room in Oliver Gan’s office building in Quezon City dedicated to the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines. It has two office staff, golf sets, boxes, trophies, shirts and two large white boards filled up with schedules and marginal notes. That particular afternoon, Gan was charting the interschool championships which is JGFP’s major event of the year. He was going through the logistics of the competitions as well as the events JGFP is staging leading up the interschool. Hectic day in the office for the 40-year-old Gan. Except that his real office was in the adjacent room where he runs the family business. “Running our family business and running the JGFP is easy for me. As long as there are no parents complaining,” Gan said jokingly. “But that is impossible. Between the two, it seems like running the family business is easier.” Yet despite that, Gan has been hands-on in JGFP. And for good reasons. One of them is the fact that Gan is himself a national jungolf champion. The other is because he has two daughters, Nicole and Stephanie, who happen to be two of the most promising jungolfers in the country. Gan said he’s playing golf at least once a week. But his downtime is not entirely for golf. “I used to play baseball and volleyball back in high school but concentrated on golf when my teammates outgrew me,” Gan said. Lately, his evenings are spent on the basketball court. “I used to play in the Xavier Alumni Basketball League,” said Gan, who acts as the team “owner,” being both the manager and playing coach of their batch. He is also chairman for sports in the alumni association of Xavier School. On the national level, Gan is former program officer of the Philippine Sports Institute for the National Capital Region and adviser for golf at the Games and Amusements Board. Clearly, his heart belongs to golf. And it shows in his work at JGFP. “We parents invest so much time and effort in our kids’ golf. We now know that our efforts are not wasted,” Gan said. “Before, golf was very exclusive. Not everyone can play it. Especially the children. Now our efforts to give golf a wider talent pool is gaining traction. Everyone is taking notice and is starting to cooperate.” That’s why JGFP is working on “giving it back to the kids, especially the under-privileged,” supporting several scholars. Through Gan’s initiatives, JGFP has been gaining the support of the private sector which is crucial in every grassroots program. JGFP, too, has reached Mindanao where there are a lot of untapped talents. And just recently, it announced that former Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo as JGFP’s “godfather.” “I think we are doing well. People know junior golf is in good hands. Businessmen are supporting the foundation. We are staging tournaments left and right. Golf courses offer to hold our events. We are getting invitations and accreditations from all over the world,” Gan said. But what Gan is counting as his biggest moment was when JGFP managed to span to Visayas and Mindanao which will soon have their own inter-school meets. “All the regional winners, we will pit them against each other in a truly national inter-school championships,” Gan said. “And from there we get the players to represent the country in international meets.” Such ambitious plans for JGFP. But nothing far-fetched with Gan at the helm. The post TOP GAN — JGFP’s dynamic chief steers jungolf to new heights appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Monsters in Phl volleyball
Philippine volleyball is again in trouble. The country’s lone professional volleyball league — the Premier Volleyball League — is under fire after the Philippine National Volleyball Federation penalized it for staging a tournament “within the national team period without authorization.” Based on the calendar of the International Volleyball Federation, no commercial tournaments will be held around the world from 16 May to 15 October to give way to the national teams’ participation in various tournaments. The PVL, however, kicked off its Invitational Conference last week to run till 30 July with guest teams from Japan and Australia said to be joining to jack up the level of competition in the semifinals. The biggest casualty is the national squad that competed in the AVC Women’s Challenge Cup in Indonesia recently. With the core of the team that saw action in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games like Alyssa Valdez, Kat Tolentino, Jia de Guzman, and Mylene Paat busy with their respective mother teams in the PVL, the PNVF had no choice but to send young and untested players to the prestigious continental tournament. Bannered by Faith Nisperos, Michelle Cobb, AC Miner, and Roma Doromal with Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Bang Pineda as the only veterans, the national squad had a forgettable seventh-place finish. This didn’t sit well with the PNVF. In a memorandum that Daily Tribune obtained last Thursday, the federation cracked the whip by barring PVL clubs from securing the International Transfer Certificates of foreign players in the reinforced conference. Sideliners see the penalty as a declaration of war by the PNVF leadership as it will prompt the PVL organizers to either alter their format or scrap the season-ending conference altogether. But more than that, the sanction will disrupt PVL operations, hurting the players, coaches, officials, utility, and other personnel who are banking on professional volleyball to make ends meet. But let us remember that the PVL is the federation’s last remaining ally. When the PNVF was formed at the height of the pandemic in 2021, the PVL rallied behind it while other leagues such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, University Athletic Association of the Philippines, and the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League refused to toe the line. The PVL had also been very cooperative and supportive of the national team program by deploying its players to major international tournaments. In fact, when the PNVF leadership threw a tantrum and fired National University players from the national squad, it was the PVL that cleaned up the mess by sending its players to the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup that the country was set to host. During the buildup to the SEA Games, the PVL made the major sacrifice of halting its operations so its players could go to Japan for a 15-day training. Although it could have easily refused since the Osaka training was scheduled from 13 to 28 April, which was outside the national team window, the PVL still agreed to lend its players to help the federation regain a SEA Games medal. The PVL has also been very gracious, allowing national team head coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito of Brazil to coach one of its marquee clubs, Akari, even though there are many local coaches available who can easily do the job. And now this? The PNVF is penalizing the PVL for something that could have been resolved with a mere phone call or a 30-minute meeting. You don’t do that to your partner, especially your most loyal — and last remaining — ally. What if — only what if — PVL team owners fire back and bar their stars from playing for the national team in the 19th Asian Games? Can the PNVF still form a competitive team? The monsters that have been terrorizing Philippine volleyball are again starting to appear. And, sad to say, they are destroying the relationship between the PVL and PNVF, greatly affecting the country’s chances to form a stronger, more competitive national team. Unless local officials slay the monsters — pride, greed, arrogance, and lust for power — Philippine volleyball will forever be a source of punchlines in the international arena. The post Monsters in Phl volleyball 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......»»
Phl volleybelles sharpen reception
The Philippine national women’s team got a first look at what it needs to address heading into the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia next month. Pitted against Japan V. League club Himeji Victorina in their first competitive scrimmage since the their formation last month, the Filipinas suffered a 21-25, 25-19, 13-25, 22-25, loss on Saturday at the Daicel Gymnasium in Himeji City in the first of their series of tune-up matches scheduled in their 15-day training camp in Japan. The national coaching staff headed by Brazilian mentor Jorge Souza de Brito took the opportunity to assess the condition, chemistry and cohesion of the squad to plot a perfect training plan needed for its mission to end an 18-year podium drought in the biennial meet set from 5 to 17 May. Philippine National Volleyball Federation national teams commission head Tonyboy Liao pointed out that the squad still needs to polish an important facet of the game. “We have to improve our reception. We saw that during the game against Himeji,” Liao, who was joined in the training camp by ranking federation officials, said. Reception has always been the weakness of the national squad despite having excellent liberos and hitters with decent floor defense. The 14-man team led by skipper Alyssa Valdez, which is looking to score a medal for the first time since winning bronze in the 2005 Manila edition, still has time to polish its game before closing camp on 28 April. Meanwhile, the PNVF led by its officials and Himeji Victorina club formally signed a friendship agreement to further strengthen their volleyball ties. “The Philippine Volleyball Federation and Victorina Himeji will continue to cooperate to share each other’s volleyball promotion and player skills enhancement programs and this is a sign of friendship,” the agreement signed by the PNVF and Himeji Victorina executives. The Nationals were warmly welcomed by host Himeji Victorina when they arrived at the Asian volleyball powerhouse nation early Friday. This is the first time that the Filipinas made their return to Japan to train since their Tokyo camp for the 30th SEA Games in Manila in 2019. They trained in Brazil last year for the pandemic-delayed Hanoi SEA Games last year. The Filipinas will face Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore in Group B of the elimination round of the competition set to begin two days ahead of the opening ceremony on 3 May at the Morodok Techo Elephant Hall. The post Phl volleybelles sharpen reception appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNVF unveils new coach, new recruits
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation beefed up its preparations for a redemption bid in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games with a new mentor and three reinforcements for the men’s national team......»»
PNVF taps Brazilian coach for beach volley teams
Brazil’s Joao Luciano Kiodai was added to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation national team program to handle the beach volleyball squads, according to PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara......»»
Alinsunurin, Mamon named national coaches
Dante Alinsunurin will have a chance to replicate, if not improve, on his silver-medal performance in the Southeast Asian Games as he was re-appointed by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation as the national men’s coach yesterday......»»
Brazilian coach type ni Suzara
ASAM ng bagong buo na Philippine National Volleyball Federation Incorporated (PNFI) na makahiram ng Brazilian coach na magtuturo sa Pilipinas. The post Brazilian coach type ni Suzara first appeared on Abante......»»
SEA GAMES: The silver that glittered like gold
When the editorial staff of ABS-CBN Sports was tasked to come up with our most memorable coverage, it didn’t take long for this writer to respond. The Philippine men’s volleyball team’s Southeast Asian Games semifinal match was the first thing that came to mind. Pesonally, that game against the highly-fancied Thailand squad topped all the countless volleyball matches that I’ve covered in my career. I’m at a loss for words on how to describe the emotions I felt that chilly night of December 8, 2019. Around 6,700 fans filled the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City not knowing that what they were about to witness was something historic. A magical night that would take away the frustrations they felt the day before when the more popular women’s team finished the preliminary round winless. For us sportswriters covering that assignment, we knew the Filipinos were up for a tough ride. Thailand ruled the last four editions of the event. On the other hand, the Philippines’ last significant outing in the biennial meet was a bronze medal finish back in 1991 – or when the current national team’s oldest member, setter Jessie Lopez was just five-years old. Did we doubt our own team? Let’s just say we prayed to the high heavens to give us something positive to write about. But don’t get us wrong. Those who followed the formation and preparation of the squad knew it would yield results come the SEA Games. After all, in all three batches of the Nationals that participated in the regional sports meet since 2015, this particular team had the longest time to prepare – around eight months to be exact. The team’s composition itself looked really promising. For the first time, two of country’s best hitters in Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, who both have experience playing in the Japan V. League, donned the tricolors together. Espejo returned after skipping the 2017 edition so did his teammates in the 2015 squad Rex Intal and setter Ish Polvorosa. Bagunas was on his second tour of duty along with team captain John Vic De Guzman, Mark Alfafara, RanRan Abdilla and libero Jack Kalingking. Head coach Dante Alinsunurin, who was appointed to handle the team after Oliver Almadro and Sammy Acaylar in 2015 and 2017, respectively, tapped an old hand in Lopez and injected young bloods in playmaker Owa Retamar, Jau Umandal, Kim Malabunga, Ricky Marcos and Francis Saura. As part of their buildup the Nationals joined the Thailand Open Sealect Tuna Championship July last year. The Filipinos achieved a great feat when they won bronze. Fans were able to witness the Nationals’ campaign via YouTube streaming while we volleyball writers, got to file our full stories through the help of De Guzman and Bagunas (God bless their beautiful hearts) who supplied us with game stats and granted postgame interviews. It’s just a shame I never got to cover the team’s training in Japan when the Nationals’ preparation went on full throttle. (Note: A little confusion in the training camp coverage assignments had me flying to Japan with the women’s squad and Lance Agcaoili of Spin.ph joining the men’s team. But it was a great experience, nonetheless, and I’m grateful for Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. for the opportunity.) I was as confused as the other sportswriters present during the draw for the group stage a couple of months before the SEA Games when Alinsunurin chose to join the four-team bracket with Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Those three teams are considered contenders every SEA Games edition. And earning a semifinal spot would be harder compared to the other group composed of Thailand, Myanmar and Singapore. Fortunately, the gamble was worth it. Espejo and Bagunas were superb offensively, Malabunga and Retamar made their presence felt and the Nationals’ blocking shocked Cambodia and Vietnam as the Filipinos swept them both to secure a semis seat. Then came the steamrolling Indonesians. Honestly, I thought the Nationals would sweep their way to the group’s top seeding. That way the PHI’s would've avoided a semis clash with Thailand. Forced to take on the defending champions, the Filipinos found themselves down in the first set. They got back in the second frame before yielding the third. And when the Thais came to match point, 24-21, in the fourth we all thought it was over. Fans were slowly emptying the bleachers not wanting to see the impending defeat. I was already waiting for the final score. Ready break the result. Then a miracle happened. The Nationals nibbled on the Thais' lead to force a deuce. After another deadlock, the Filipinos stole the set. The fifth frame was classic story of ‘who wants it more will win.’ An extended set made it even more dramatic. I vividly remember that sequence when Bagunas hammered the game-clinching kill off a lob from Lopez. After that all that I can recall was me pumping my fist up in the air and slapping the hardest high-fives I ever did with those inside the press room while howling like a madman. The national team assured itself of a silver after 42 years. A silver after four freaking decades. They did it. Of course, the Indonesians bullied their way to winning the gold medal in a sweep of the inexperienced Filipinos. But who cares, the host team exceeded its podium expectations. That silver that glittered like gold made that coverage truly memorable. But it never crossed my mind that it would be the last important volleyball event that I will get to report. (Note: It would’ve been the UAAP if not for the health crisis that put all sporting events to a halt. Sad.) And that’s why I ended up writing these last few paragraphs. A farewell from this section. From my first article for this website back on December 1, 2014 – a post-mortem of Petron’s breakthrough title in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix – to my last published story, these were all written with only one thing in mind: in the service of the Filipino sports fan worldwide. Our run may have not been perfect, of course, we had our flaws. We had our fair share of criticisms from fans, athletes, sports personalities and sometimes even from our partner leagues and properties. We accepted our shortcomings. We tried to be better. But we are proud of what we did. We take pride with how we delivered sports stories through various digital executions that showcased sports beyond the confines of competition. On midnight of September 1 while most of you lay sound asleep, deep in slumber, hopefully, having a good dream and hours away from waking up looking forward to a better day, this website will be snapped out of existence. More than half a decade of sharing stories to the Filipino sports fan will be seeing its last presence online on Monday – a holiday to celebrate the nation’s heroes. This website will then hear its final buzzer, its final whistle. Thousands of articles – written with passion, dedication and love – will be taken down as this website goes offline together with majority of ABS-CBN Sports’ social media accounts. But soon, hopefully, it will once again see the light of day. We do hope that you will remember us, for we will remember all of you who made us your Kapamilya. -- 30 -- --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles Mark Escarlote has served as a sub-section editor for ABS-CBN Sports' website since 2014. He is among thousands of ABS-CBN employees who will be retrenched on August 31, 2020. .....»»
SEA GAMES: The silver that glittered like gold
When the editorial staff of ABS-CBN Sports was tasked to come up with our most memorable coverage, it didn’t take long for this writer to respond. The Philippine men’s volleyball team’s Southeast Asian Games semifinal match was the first thing that came to mind. Pesonally, that game against the highly-fancied Thailand squad topped all the countless volleyball matches that I’ve covered in my career. I’m at a loss for words on how to describe the emotions I felt that chilly night of December 8, 2019. Around 6,700 fans filled the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City not knowing that what they were about to witness was something historic. A magical night that would take away the frustrations they felt the day before when the more popular women’s team finished the preliminary round winless. For us sportswriters covering that assignment, we knew the Filipinos were up for a tough ride. Thailand ruled the last four editions of the event. On the other hand, the Philippines’ last significant outing in the biennial meet was a bronze medal finish back in 1991 – or when the current national team’s oldest member, setter Jessie Lopez was just five-years old. Did we doubt our own team? Let’s just say we prayed to the high heavens to give us something positive to write about. But don’t get us wrong. Those who followed the formation and preparation of the squad knew it would yield results come the SEA Games. After all, in all three batches of the Nationals that participated in the regional sports meet since 2015, this particular team had the longest time to prepare – around eight months to be exact. The team’s composition itself looked really promising. For the first time, two of country’s best hitters in Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, who both have experience playing in the Japan V. League, donned the tricolors together. Espejo returned after skipping the 2017 edition so did his teammates in the 2015 squad Rex Intal and setter Ish Polvorosa. Bagunas was on his second tour of duty along with team captain John Vic De Guzman, Mark Alfafara, RanRan Abdilla and libero Jack Kalingking. Head coach Dante Alinsunurin, who was appointed to handle the team after Oliver Almadro and Sammy Acaylar in 2015 and 2017, respectively, tapped an old hand in Lopez and injected young bloods in playmaker Owa Retamar, Jau Umandal, Kim Malabunga, Ricky Marcos and Francis Saura. As part of their buildup the Nationals joined the Thailand Open Sealect Tuna Championship July last year. The Filipinos achieved a great feat when they won bronze. Fans were able to witness the Nationals’ campaign via YouTube streaming while we volleyball writers, got to file our full stories through the help of De Guzman and Bagunas (God bless their beautiful hearts) who supplied us with game stats and granted postgame interviews. It’s just a shame I never got to cover the team’s training in Japan when the Nationals’ preparation went on full throttle. (Note: A little confusion in the training camp coverage assignments had me flying to Japan with the women’s squad and Lance Agcaoili of Spin.ph joining the men’s team. But it was a great experience, nonetheless, and I’m grateful for Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. for the opportunity.) I was as confused as the other sportswriters present during the draw for the group stage a couple of months before the SEA Games when Alinsunurin chose to join the four-team bracket with Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Those three teams are considered contenders every SEA Games edition. And earning a semifinal spot would be harder compared to the other group composed of Thailand, Myanmar and Singapore. Fortunately, the gamble was worth it. Espejo and Bagunas were superb offensively, Malabunga and Retamar made their presence felt and the Nationals’ blocking shocked Cambodia and Vietnam as the Filipinos swept them both to secure a semis seat. Then came the steamrolling Indonesians. Honestly, I thought the Nationals would sweep their way to the group’s top seeding. That way the PHI’s would've avoided a semis clash with Thailand. Forced to take on the defending champions, the Filipinos found themselves down in the first set. They got back in the second frame before yielding the third. And when the Thais came to match point, 24-21, in the fourth we all thought it was over. Fans were slowly emptying the bleachers not wanting to see the impending defeat. I was already waiting for the final score. Ready break the result. Then a miracle happened. The Nationals nibbled on the Thais' lead to force a deuce. After another deadlock, the Filipinos stole the set. The fifth frame was classic story of ‘who wants it more will win.’ An extended set made it even more dramatic. I vividly remember that sequence when Bagunas hammered the game-clinching kill off a lob from Lopez. After that all that I can recall was me pumping my fist up in the air and slapping the hardest high-fives I ever did with those inside the press room while howling like a madman. The national team assured itself of a silver after 42 years. A silver after four freaking decades. They did it. Of course, the Indonesians bullied their way to winning the gold medal in a sweep of the inexperienced Filipinos. But who cares, the host team exceeded its podium expectations. That silver that glittered like gold made that coverage truly memorable. But it never crossed my mind that it would be the last important volleyball event that I will get to report. (Note: It would’ve been the UAAP if not for the health crisis that put all sporting events to a halt. Sad.) And that’s why I ended up writing these last few paragraphs. A farewell from this section. From my first article for this website back on December 1, 2014 – a post-mortem of Petron’s breakthrough title in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix – to my last published story, these were all written with only one thing in mind: in the service of the Filipino sports fan worldwide. Our run may have not been perfect, of course, we had our flaws. We had our fair share of criticisms from fans, athletes, sports personalities and sometimes even from our partner leagues and properties. We accepted our shortcomings. We tried to be better. But we are proud of what we did. We take pride with how we delivered sports stories through various digital executions that showcased sports beyond the confines of competition. On midnight of September 1 while most of you lay sound asleep, deep in slumber, hopefully, having a good dream and hours away from waking up looking forward to a better day, this website will be snapped out of existence. More than half a decade of sharing stories to the Filipino sports fan will be seeing its last presence online on Monday – a holiday to celebrate the nation’s heroes. This website will then hear its final buzzer, its final whistle. Thousands of articles – written with passion, dedication and love – will be taken down as this website goes offline together with majority of ABS-CBN Sports’ social media accounts. But soon, hopefully, it will once again see the light of day. We do hope that you will remember us, for we will remember all of you who made us your Kapamilya. -- 30 -- --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles Mark Escarlote has served as a sub-section editor for ABS-CBN Sports' website since 2014. He is among thousands of ABS-CBN employees who will be retrenched on August 31, 2020. .....»»
CHED to schools and universities: Follow guidelines
The Commission on Higher Education stressed the importance of putting the students’ safety first and to follow government guidelines and protocols after the alleged training sessions of some varsity teams amid the pandemic. In a virtual meeting on Wednesday with the Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusement Board and Department of Health, which issued the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) on the conduct of physical activities and sports, CHED reminded universities and colleges to follow applicable guidelines. CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera III mentioned that their agency, which supervises tertiary education in the country, has issued several advisories and guidelines since March advising the students to stay home. These were consistent with the guidelines issued by the IATF and the tri-agency-issued JAO. “Safety of our students is the topmost concern,” said De Vera. This statement mirrors the constant stand and reminder of PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez who, in his statement related to this issue, said that the life and safety of athletes is “important that no medal can ever equal.” In the same statement, Ramirez also advised sports officials to always keep the safety of their athletes “top priority.” University of Sto. Tomas is in hot water following the alleged ‘Sorsogon bubble’ of its men’s basketball team conducted by head coach Aldin Ayo. UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag and Season 83 President Nonong Calanog said that the university in question is now finalizing their internal investigation and UAAP expects to receive the final report before their meeting on Friday. The UAAP was also requested to seek clarification from National University, whose women’s volleyball athletes allegedly trained as well, despite government issued restrictions. PSC National Training Director Marc Velasco thanked De Vera and reiterated the PSC’s stance on the safety of athletes. “The PSC will always push to uphold the issuances regarding sports and physical activity and we are happy that CHED is a steady partner when it comes to sports in universities and colleges,” said Velasco. GAB Chairman Abraham Mitra appreciated the input of CHED saying that De Vera’s inputs “gave the group another perspective on these issues” and actively gave examples of how the GAB handles similar situation on professional sports. Also in the meeting were CHED Executive Directory Atty. Cindy Jaro and DOH Section Head of Policy and Technology Rodley Carza. The group expects to have representatives of the two universities join the next meeting set on September 1, where they hope to resolve the matter and take final action......»»
Wong names Morado, Salak among her top 5 setters
Deanna Wong is considered as one of top talents who make the future of Philippine volleyball look bright. A UAAP title in Season 81 and a Best Setter award in Season 80 are some of the accomplishments she collected as setter of the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles. As talented and skilled as she is, Wong looks up to the legends that made and still making their marks in the local volleyball scene. Here is Wong’s list of Top 5 Pinay setters. JIA MORADO “Well number one siyempre Ate Jia [Morado], my mentor talaga so wala nang bakit number one siya,” said Wong during her appearance on So She Did! Heady with great court vision and solid connection with her hitters best describe Morado. The UAAP Season 77 Best Setter established her legendary status during her stay with the Lady Eagles, who she piloted to back-to-back UAAP titles. Morado, who is a member of the national team, also helped Creamline win three titles in the Premier Volleyball League while collecting five straight Best Setter awards in the two-conference league. TINA SALAK Longevity. This makes Salak a legend among the setters in the country. The 44-year old playmaker started to make waves when she led Far Eastern University to a couple of championships in the mid-90s. Salak was also the main setter of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games bronze medal team – the last squad to earn a podium finish in the biennial meet. The Army personnel played in the PVL and in the Philippine Superliga up until 2018 before going full time as coach of De La Salle-Zobel girls team. KIM FAJARDO De La Salle University won three titles during her stint with the Lady Spikers. Fajardo is well-known for her well-rounded approach in playmaking. She easily adapts with the style of her hitters, good at reading the defense and a vocal leader inside the court. The Batangas native bagged three Best Setter awards and a Best Server recognition during her stay with the green and white. Her fierce competition with Morado made the Ateneo-DLSU rivalry extra colorful. Fajardo is also enjoying a successful career with F2 Logistics in the PSL and is a member of the national team. JEM FERRER A member of the Ateneo Fab Five, Ferrer can be considered as one of the Lady Eagles who paved the way for Ateneo’s success in the UAAP. Ferrer was named Best Setter three times and helped the Lady Eagles advance to their first-ever Finals appearance in Season 74. Ferrer remains as one of the PVL’s top playmakers. RHEA DIMACULANGAN University of Sto. Tomas has yet to find a setter that would equal the caliber of Dimaculangan. With her orchestrating the Tigresses’ plays, UST went on to win the Season 72 crown while bagging the Best Server and Finals Most Valuable Player honors. Dimaculangan is a member of the national team. --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles.....»»
World champion Pavan shares beach volleyball tips to Rondina, Pons
Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons as well as other members of the Creamline beach volleyball squad got a chance to meet and talk with world champion Sarah Pavan on Wednesday through Zoom. The 6-foot-6 Canadian star gave an inspirational talk and some tips on how to be successful in the sport. Rondina, who led the Philippines to a bronze medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games last December and is a four-time UAAP beach volleyball champion, was grateful for the experience. Mixed emotions whooooaaaa got a chance to talk to @SarahPavan mheeeen!!!! ????????????????????Solid!!!! Thank you for your time Idol ???????? can’t wait to see you back on the court!!! ???????? @CreamlineBeach Salamat ng Marami iba kayo ???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/U1g6Wyqhz9 — Cherry Ann Rondina (@Rondina011) August 12, 2020 Pavan, 33, is fresh off a stint in the 2020 AVP Champions Cup series which was concluded last week behind closed doors in Long Beach, California. She and partner Melissa Humana-Paredes finished second behind Americans April Ross and Alix Klineman in the Wilson Cup, the second of a three-leg series which made up the coronavirus-hit AVP season. Pavan and Humana-Paredes beat Ross and Klineman in the final of the 2019 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany last year. Their win secured Canada a spot in the Tokyo Olympics. Rondina and Pons were joined by their SEA Games teammate Dij Rodriguez in the one of a kind treat. Rising stars Alexa Polidario and Bianca Lizares, women's coaches Dolo Doloiras and Romnick Rico as well as James Buytrago, who was a part of the Philippine men's team which won bronze in the SEA Games last year, also took part in the online meeting. Pol Salvador, AJ Pareja, Pemie Bagalay, Krung Arbasto and Efraem Dimaculangan, and coach Rhovyl Verayo were also present during the session. --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles.....»»
PVL, PSL have high hopes of getting nod to resume training
The country’s top commercial volleyball leagues remain optimistic that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases will grant their request for their club teams to resume training soon. Both the Premier Volleyball League and the Philippine Superliga crafted their own health and safety guidelines adhering to the protocols set by the IATF that would allow their respective leagues to resume activities amid the health crisis. “We are trying to requests the IATF to give the teams permission to start working out,” said PVL organizer Sports Vision president Ricky Palou in an interview on Noli Eala’s Power & Play on Saturday. “Of course, following their protocols which is medyo mahirap ang protocol guidelines nila. But at least it will keep the teams and the players in shape when the league finally is given permission to compete,” he added. The PVL, which is also scrambling to find a new broadcast partner after the non-renewal of its TV coverer ABS-CBN’s franchise, eyes to stage its fourth season late this year. Palou said that the PVL is requesting the IATF to allow at least five players and a coach every practice session. A medical personnel will also be present to monitor and oversee that that the protocol is strictly followed during training. “We made a draft and revising this according to the guidelines of the IATF which includes rapid and swab testing, keeping the distance requirements when they practice,” said Palou. Meanwhile, PSL president Dr. Ian Laurel bared that the league has created a medical oversight committee headed by the league’s resident physician Dr. Raul Alcantara. Alcantara has experience in the field of infectious diseases with his stint in the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine during the height of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003. “We are busy forming a medical oversight committee that would be in-charge of making sure that all safety and healthy protocols would be strictly followed,” said Laurel. “We are also talking to the IATF, the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission), the GAB (Games and Amusement Board) and the DOH (Department of Health) about the possibility of restarting our training and, eventually, our games.” Both leagues hope that IATF will give a positive response following the IATF’s green light on professional leagues PBA and Philippine Football League to resume training. --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles.....»»
PHI men s volleyball team members stay fit through cycling
National men’s volleyball team members are riding the new craze to stay fit while leagues and activities of the sport are still banned because of the health crisis. Team captain John Vic De Guzman, Bryan Bagunas and Jau Umandal as well as other members of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games silver medal-winning squad are hitting the road with their newfound love for cycling. “Ginagawa ko na siyang alternative sa endurance training ko. Cross-training ko na rin siya. Para maiba lang kaysa sa palaging takbo lang,” Bagunas told ABS-CBN Sports. Last Thursday, the trio in their first time together since the lockdown pedaled for around 40 kilometers from CCP complex to MOA around Okada and back. “‘Yung dalawa matagal na rin silang nagba-bike. Tapos na nag-chat ako kay Bry na baka makakuha na ako ng bike. Tapos ayun natauloy din kami,” said De Guzman, who for months stayed in Isabela with his good buddy Ricci Rivero with Luzon put under an enhanced community quarantine because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “Iba yung papawis kasi kahit papaano nagi-enjoy ka,” he added. “Kahit papaano nakaka-bonding mo rin sila.” (Photo from Bryan Bagunas' Instagram account: bryanbagunas01) Learning about each other’s interest in biking through their social media posts, Bagunas and Umandal, who rides a road bike, were actually the ones who planned their meeting. “Nakita ko siyang nag-post ng picture na nagba-bike tapos nakita rin niya ako na nag-post hanggang sa magkayayaan na,” shared Bagunas, who owns a mountain bike. “Itong si John Vic naman nasa Isabela pa kasi siya nung last week pero nagtsa-chat na siya na sama raw siya pag nakabalik na siya. Nagka-schedule na magkasama-sama.” Last Saturday, the trio joined other former national team members including coach Emil Lontoc, Kungfu Reyes and Ottie Camangian in a get-together bike run which kicked off in Las Pinas. Meanwhile, libero Ricky Marcos is hitting two birds with one on his bike. The Bulldogs standout is not only using his bike to stay fit, it also serves as his delivery ride for his online business. Marcos himself delivers samgyupsal to his customers on his bike. Marcos is one of the first national athletes to avail of the free bicycles given by the Philippine Olympic Committee through the initiative of its President Cong. Bambol Tolentino. Rhea Dimaculangan of the women’s volleyball team is also a first batch recipient of POC’s free bikes. Bagunas said that other national team members are actually looking to join them in their cycling runs. “Pati ‘yung iba may plano nang bumili ng bike. Sigurado sa susunod ‘yung iba mapapasama na,” he said. “‘Yung iba nagsa-cycling na rin sila pero di pa namin nakakasama pa.” With their usual training activities still prohibited, volleyball athletes are finding ways to stay in shape and remain in tip-top condition. “Mahirap na rin magpabaya eh,” said Bagunas. “Kasi siyempre baka biglang magkalaro na nga. Siyempre buhay na natin 'yang volleyball.” --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles.....»»
10 things that make Alyssa Valdez phenomenal
Alyssa Valdez has arguably made the biggest impact in Philippine volleyball. Her skills, passion and charisma endeared her to volleyball supporters, purists or casual fans, from all walks of life. She brings energy and leadership to every team that she’s joined. Valdez draws a huge crowd every time she plays. Valdez is the poster girl of the sport that for years struggled to draw mainstream attention in a nation which considers basketball as its biggest sporting event. The 27-year old pride of San Juan, Batangas is the face of local volleyball. So on her birthday today, let’s look at some of the things that makes the Phenom really phenomenal. Two-time UAAP women’s champion Valdez is Ateneo de Manila University’s undisputed Queen Eagle. Talks about the Lady Eagles’ breakthrough championship will not be complete without the mention of her name. After two years of bridesmaid finishes, Ateneo bagged its first-ever UAAP title in 2014 after beating the thrice-to-beat De La Salle University in four games in the Finals despite leading a young band of Lady Eagles playing under the new system of Thai coach Tai Bundit. The following year, Ateneo, with Valdez at the helm, retained its crown in a tournament-sweeping fashion. Three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Her skills during her collegiate career stood out among her peers. Valdez’s effort was rewarded with three Most Valuable Player awards in Season 76, Season 77 and in her last playing year in Season 78 in 2016. She also pocketed the Season 76 Finals MVP award. Young phenom Valdez didn’t build her reputation overnight. It was her hard work and effort that brought her where she is right now. She was still a diamond in the rough when she was recruited by University of Sto. Tomas in a regional meet. But the Espana-based squad polished Valdez into a real gem of a player. Valdez, backed by a powerful lineup that featured the likes of Kim Fajardo and Jaja Santiago, won three straight UAAP girls’ titles and in the process collected three season MVPs. She was also named UAAP high school athlete of the year twice. National team mainstay With her talents, dedication and good work ethics, Valdez has been a mainstay with the national team. Her first tour of duty was in 2008 when she represented the country in the Asian Youth Championship held in Pasig City. She joined the PHI Team in the 2014 FIVB Southeast Asian Zone qualifier in Vietnam. In 2015, she donned the tricolors for the Asian U-23 Championship and on the same year saw action in the country’s return in the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore after a decade of absence. Since then Valdez participated in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur and 2019 Manila SEA Games. She also took part in the 2017 Asian Senior Women’s Championship and the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. 2015 SEA Games flagbearer Valdez also carries the honor as being the first-ever volleyball player to become the PHI flag-bearer in the SEA Games. She marched holding the national color in front of Team Philippines during the traditional parade of nations inside the OCBC Arena in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games. Accomplished commercial league star She has been collecting commercial league titles since high school starting from the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League. Valdez was also successful in the different conferences of the defunct V-League, racking up championships and individual accolades. In the Premier Volleyball League, she powered Creamline to three titles including a sweep of the Season 2 Reinforced and Open Conferences in 2018. She won three conference MVP awards. Import abroad International leagues took notice of Valdez’s talents and charm so it’s not surprising that she landed offers to play abroad. Valdez played as an import in Thailand for 3BB Nakornnont from 2016 to 2017. After her stint in Thailand, Valdez flew to Taiwan to play for Attack Line. Host, Actress, TV personality Valdez is a regular fixture in different sports shows in ABS-CBN S+A. She’s a host, courtside reporter and a game analyst. Valdez also had a few showbiz stints. She appeared in some Kapamilya teleserye including a cameo in ‘And I Love You So’ in 2016 alongside Julia Barretto and Miles Ocampo and in the movie ‘My Letters to Happy’ with by TJ Trinidad and Glaiza De Castro. Aside from her TV and movie career, Valdez is also one of the most recognizable athlete product endorsers. Social media influencer She is also one of the most popular Filipino athlete on social media. As of posting, Valdez has 1.9 million Twitter followers, 1.3 million followers on Instagram and her YouTube channel has more than 76,000 subscribers. Featured in the Olympics Channel website While the likes of Sisi Rondina, Jaja Santiago and Bryan Bagunas were featured in the FIVB website, Valdez’s impact on Philippine Volleyball was highlighted in a feature article in no less than the Olympic Channel website. The article touched about her humble beginnings to her meteoric rise and why she is regarded as the nation’s brightest star in the sport. These are just some of the things take make Valdez a true pride of our nation in the sport Happy birthday, Alyssa!.....»»
ON THIS DAY: Philippine volleyball makes SEA Games return
On this day five years ago, the Philippines made its return in the Southeast Asian Games after a 10-year hiatus. The hyped PHI women’s team saw action for the first time in the 2015 Singapore edition of the biennial meet and faced Indonesia in a match that drew headlines even before the actual game at the OCBC Arena Hall 2. In a controversial move, the Philippines filed a protest against Indonesia, demanding a gender test for its powerful spiker Aprilia Manganang because of her masculine appreance and physique. The request was denied by the Singaporean SEA Games organizing committee, citing that the FIVB had already cleared Manganang in a previous FIVB-sanctioned tournament. [Related story: Philippine request for gender test on Indonesian player denied] The protest backfired for the Filipinas as they were given a rude welcome by the Indonesians, particularly Manganang. Manganang let the Filipinas know that no amount of distraction will get her out of her game as she banged in 13 points to power Indonesia to a 25-22, 25-20, 25-14, win. [Related story: PHI protest backfires as inspired Manganang waxed-hot] Alyssa Valdez, who was the Team Philippines' flag-bearer, paced the Pinays with 15 points, but the towering sisters Jaja Santiago and elder sibling Dindin Santiago-Manabat were neutralized and had only seven and two points, respectively. It was a big letdown for the Nationals, who were bracketed in Group B together with Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. That SEA Games edition format assured the top two teams from each bracket at least a bronze medal. However, it did mark the historic return of the Philippines in the SEA Games since winning bronze in the 2005 Manila edition. The Philippine women’s team that time was composed of Valdez, the Santiago sisters, Rhea Dimaculangan, Grethcel Soltones, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Maika Ortiz, Jia Morado, Rachele Anne Daquis, Aby Marano, Bea De Leon and Denden Lazaro under head coach Roger Gorayeb. In men’s play, the Filipinos found early success after beating Malaysia, 20-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-19, in their Group A opener. The Philippines was bracketed with Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia. Marck Espejo led that PHI team together with John Vic De Guzman, AJ Pareja, Rex Intal, Josh Villanueva, Kheeno Franco, Edward Camposano, Ysay Marasigan, Sandy Montero, Peter Torres, Timothy Sto. Tomas and Ish Polvorosa with Oliver Almadro calling the shots. --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles.....»»