New songs from H.E.R., Billie and Olivia
H.E.R., the singer, musician and songwriter, is our girl of the moment......»»
Grammys 2024: Miley Cyrus wins Record of the Year for ‘Flowers’
Los Angeles, United States—Pop chameleon Miley Cyrus bested a stacked field that included Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish to win the Grammy for Record of the Year on Sunday. She nabbed the prize — recognizing overall performance of a song –- for her hit single “Flowers,” which spent eight weeks at number one on the Billboard top songs.....»»
Billie Eilish looking at second Oscar
In a span of five years, Billie Eilish has become one of the most awarded artists of this new generation. She is now only 22 years old, the youngest ever to attain such success and she continues to be on an amazing roll......»»
Fashion seeks dedicated followers with influence online
Once kept firmly at arm's length by the fashion world, influencers are now courted alongside big celebrity names by emerging talents keen to leverage their millions of online followers. "Influencers will have a leading role in building the legitimacy of creators," Delphine Dion, professor at France's ESSEC Business School, told AFP. "It is thanks to them that many designers will manage to break through." The cream of TikTok and Instagram flocked to Masha Popova's show on Sunday as part of London Fashion Week. The young Ukrainian designer counted TikTok superstar Abby Roberts, who has more than 16 million followers, among her guests. "I was in the front row with six other influencers, so I think we are doing well," said TikTok, Instagram and YouTube content creator Emma Winder after the show. Avant-garde To be a fashion influencer who matters, you first have to be "trusted by the big names" in the industry, said Dion. Next you can build a name for yourself as someone with "extremely cutting-edge tastes who can help new fashion players emerge". "It's exactly like the avant-garde dynamics you get in art. You look for the very niche to show you are even more fashionable than the rest," she added. The phenomenon is particularly visible on the catwalks at London Fashion Week, known worldwide for giving emerging talents a platform. Fashionable influencers and stars such as Zendaya, Billie Eilish, Hailey Bieber or Kylie Jenner have been seen wearing outfits by the new generation of designers including Masha Popova, Di Petsa, Chet Lo, Feben, or Yuhan Wang. 'Instant reaction' It's a win-win situation for influencers as it's now much "cooler" to wear clothes by young designers than a luxury brand, said Elizabeth Stiles, a consultant for fashion brands. And from the designer's point of view, it's "definitely faster to grow your brand through social media just through the way it works", she said. When an influencer posts content "you get an instant reaction, versus magazines where even on-line, it still takes time to write that article and upload it and maybe go through an approval process as well with an editor", she added. Social media content creators can also benefit from a good engagement rate, which measures how well their posts interact with their community. An influencer with a high engagement rate posting a photo, dressed by a young label, is more likely to generate sales for the brand. 'Everyone welcome'? Competition between traditional media -- including specialist fashion magazines -- and former fashion bloggers who are now influencers on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube is not new. The influential British journalist Susie Lau began with her fashion blog "Style Bubble" in 2006. Now she writes notably for the British magazine Pop and The Business of Fashion and is also followed by nearly 700,000 people on Instagram. In an article published in Grazia in 2017 titled "Everyone should be welcome in fashion", she said she regretted the "negative connotations" that had attached themselves to fashion bloggers, influencers and content creators. Even as recently as February, she denounced the "gall of most print media" who still in 2023 sneered at influencers. This, she said, was "hilarious, considering how many have adopted social media modus operandi". The post Fashion seeks dedicated followers with influence online appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Liza, Janine, Iza bring star power to Cinemalaya’s ‘Rookie’ gala screening
Liza Soberano, Janine Gutierrez and Iza Calzado were among the celebrity attendees at the gala screening of "Rookie", an entry in the ongoing Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. The event was held on 6 August at Cinema Rizal of the Philippine International Convention Center. "Rookie" is a coming-of-age queer film about high school volleyball players played by lead stars Aya Fernandez and Pat Tingjuy, who are both making their feature film debut. [caption id="attachment_168526" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Janine Gutierrez (Photo by Jo Valle)[/caption] The film is written by Natts Jadaone ("Lucid") and directed by Samantha Lee ("Baka Bukas", "Billie and Emma"), with Dan Villegas of Project 8 Projects and Bianca Balbuena of ANIMA Studios as executive producers. Project 8 Projects is the film production company founded by Villegas with his fellow filmmaker and fiancée Antoinette Jadaone. Soberano, Gutierrez and Calzado gave support to the movie and the people behind it, especially those they’ve worked with. Soberano starred in Jadaone’s 2019 romantic movie "Alone/Together"; Gutierrez in Lee’s 2022 TV miniseries "Sleep With Me"; and Calzado in Villegas’ 2017 horror flick "Ilawod". [caption id="attachment_168527" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Cast and crew of the Cinemalaya 2023 film "Rookie" (Photo by Jo Valle)[/caption] Catch "Rookie" at Cinemalaya XIX: IlumiNasyon, which runs until 13 August at the PICC’s Cinemas Rizal, Bonifacio, Felipe and Palma. The film festival also has screenings at elect cinemas of Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Glorietta, UP Town Center and Trinoma. The post Liza, Janine, Iza bring star power to Cinemalaya’s ‘Rookie’ gala screening appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pride screenings showcase a rainbow of stories
Cinema is one of the most engaging artforms and creative expressions through which the LGBTQ+ community documents their lived experiences, conveys their desires and struggles, celebrates their identities and advocates for reforms and deeper understanding. Thus, film screenings are popular activities during LGBTQ+ Pride Month. This year, several institutions, streaming service companies and film groups are mounting screenings, giving these works more opportunities to reach more audiences. Here is a rundown: FDCP’s Pelikulaya LGBTQIA+ Film Festival The Film Development Council of the Philippines brings back the Pelikulaya LGBTQIA+ Film Festival this year with the theme “Mga Kuwentong Mapagpalaya” (Liberating Stories), and the aim is training the spotlight “on underrepresented members of the LGBTQIA+ community to promote a better understanding of inclusivity, diversity and equality.” According to Tirso Cruz III, FDCP chairman and chief executive officer, Pelikulaya “aims to raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues. We believe that by using the power of film, we can do our part in showcasing films that celebrate LGBTQIA+ stories. Hoping to create understanding of the lives, perspectives and advocacies shown in each film.” “With that, the FDCP sends our love and gratitude to you all for being with us, and we hope you’ll have a memorable experience in all of our Cinematheque Centres across the Philippines,” he added. To be held from 23 to 30 June, Pelikulaya will screen titles at the Cinematheque Centres in Manila, Davao, Iloilo, Nabunturan and Bacolod, and several theaters in Metro Manila including Cinema ‘76 and UP Film Institute’s Cine Adarna/Videotheque. Some of the titles will also be available for streaming on JuanFlix (www.juanflix.com.ph) starting 30 June with a subscription fee. A special screening of a digitally restored and remastered version of Wong Kar Wai’s Happy Together will kick off the festival on 23 June at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City. Aside from Happy Together, films that will be screened at the Cinematheque Centres are Girl (directed by Lukas Dhont); Portrait of a Lady on Fire (directed by Celine Sciamma); Women Do Cry (directed by Vesela Kazako and Mina Mileva); Billie and Emma (directed by Samantha Lee); Mamu, and a Mother Too (directed by Rod Singh); Metamorphosis (directed by J.E. Tiglao); and The Boy Foretold by the Stars (directed by Dolly Dulu). Ishmael Bernal’s Manila by Night will have a free screening. Priced from P100 to P200, tickets to Manila screenings may be purchased through bit.ly/CCManilaTickets. [caption id="attachment_146567" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Lukas Dhont’s ‘Girl’ is inspired by a true story of a young trans girl who aspired to be a ballerina.[/caption] Short films will be screened for free at the Cinematheque Centres, and the lineup includes Alingasngas ng mga Kuliglig (directed by Vahn Leinard Pascual); Love in the Ungodly Hour (directed by Bradley Jason Pantajo); Dikit (directed by Gabriela Serrano); Gulis (directed by Kyle Jumayne Francisco); Noontime Drama (directed by Kim Timan and Sam Villa-Real); and Nang Maglublob ako sa Isang Mangkok ng Liwanag (directed by Kukay Zinampan). [caption id="attachment_146563" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Dikit,’ a short film by Gabriela Serrano.[/caption] To be available for streaming on JuanFlix are Sila-Sila (directed by Giancarlo Abrahan); Metamorphosis; Mamu, and a Mother Too; Rome and Juliet (directed by Connie Macatuno); How to Die Young in Manila (directed by Petersen Vargas); Nang Maglublob ako sa Isang Mangkok ng Liwanag; and This is Not A Coming Out Story (directed by Mark Felix Ebreo). Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Women Do Cry will be also be available on a pay-per-view basis. At Cinema ’76 Cinema ’76 Film Society is bringing in acclaimed movies this Pride Month. Headlining is Happy Together, the 1997 Cannes-winning romantic drama directed by renowned Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai and featuring Tony Leung and the late Leslie Cheung as two lovers caught in a turbulent affair. Aside from Happy Together, two films featuring transgender experiences will also be shown. Girl is the debut film of Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont and won the Camera d’Or for Best Feature Film at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. The film was inspired by a true story of a young trans girl who aspired to be a ballerina. On the other hand, Fanny: The Right to Rock is a documentary by Canadian filmmaker Bobbi Jo Hart about Fanny, the legendary Filipina-American-fronted rock band whose trailblazing impact in music was written out of history. The film touches on the place of women, women of color, queers and older women in a straight male-dominated industry. [caption id="attachment_146564" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Fanny The Right to Rock,’ a documentary about a forgotten queer band.[/caption] The three films will have a limited run from 21 to 27 June at Cinema ’76 on Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City. On iWantTFC A streaming platform with international reach, iWantTFC celebrates all types of love with a special selection of movies and series called Love is Love that includes Drag You and Me, iWantTFC’s latest original series that tackles drag culture and stars Andrea Brillantes, JC Alcantara and Christian Bables. Other iWantTFC originals that viewers may stream are the Girls’ Love series Sleep with Me, starring Janine Gutierrez and Lovi Poe, and Fluid, Boys’ Love (BL) rom-com Oh, Mando! and advocacy series Mga Batang Poz. [caption id="attachment_146566" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph courtesy of Dreamscape Entetainment | ‘Drag You and Me’ is an iWantTFC original series that tackles drag culture.[/caption] There are also empowering movies and series about loving freely and living authentically, such as The Boy Foretold by the Stars and its sequel series Love Beneath the Stars, Black Sheep’s hit series Hello Stranger starring Tony Labrusca and JC Alcantara, and the Star Cinema film My Lockdown Romance, starring Jameson Blake and Joao Constancia. Stories on learning how to embrace one’s sexuality and being true to oneself are told by The Panti Sisters, Die Beautiful, The Third Party and Baka Bukas. Thai BL series, such as 2gether the Series, Still 2gether, A Tale of a Thousand Stars and Bad Buddy are also available to stream as well as well-loved and classic LGBTQ-themed movies, such as T-Bird at Ako, Si Chedeng at si Apple and In My Life. These can be viewed on the iWantTFC app (iOs and Android) and website (iwanttfc.com). In other select countries, watch iWantTFC on a larger screen with select devices, including VEWD, ROKU and Amazon Fire streaming devices, Android TV, select Samsung Smart TV models, Telstra TV (in Australia) and VIDAA. On Jungo Pinoy New Filipino streaming app Jungo Pinoy, which boasts of having the largest Filipino-dubbed movie library in the world, as well as original films and TV series, also has a selection of LGBTQ-themed and queer-created films and series, which can be viewed either for free or through a subscription plan. Recommended watch includes: eCupid (exclusive Filipino-dubbed), a romantic comedy directed by JC Calciano and starring Morgan Fairchild, Houston Rhines and Noah Schuffman, tells the story of a gay man nearing 30 years old tapping into an otherworldly internet advertisement that begins to control his life. Hoping to end his seven-year romance rut, he uses the site to get everything he wants until he discovers that what he thought he wanted wasn’t the thing that would ultimately make him happy. Ten Year Plan (exclusive Filipino-dubbed) is another romantic comedy directed by Calciano and starring Jack Turner and Michael Adam Hamilton. In the film, two best friends make a pact to be together in a decade if neither finds love. With two months left until their deadline, they both scramble to find someone to avoid being each other’s last resort. [caption id="attachment_146565" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘TEN Year Plan,’ directed by JC Calciano.[/caption] Adan is a Filipino lesbian mystery and romance movie starring Cindy Miranda, Rhen Escano and Ruby Ruiz. In the movie, a naive provincial girl finds a way to be independent through the help of her girl best friend, but their actions have consequences. [caption id="attachment_146562" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photographs Courtesy oF JUNGO PINOY | ‘ADAN’ tells about a lesbian story.[/caption] Daddy Issues, starring Jo Ashe and Rachel Barry, is a comedy about loss and starting over. In the film, when her emotionally distant father dies and leaves her his company, a hapless stand-up comic moves to Los Angeles to take over the family business. Tucked is about an aging drag queen who forms an unlikely friendship with a younger queen. As they discover more about each other, they realize how to truly be themselves. Starring Derren Nesbit and Jordan Stephens, this film is about love, loss and friendship. Lady Gaga: iTunes Festival features the pop star’s performance at the Itunes Music Festival, which also marked the world premiere of tracks from her album ARTPOP. [caption id="attachment_146570" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JUNGO PINOY | WATCH pop star Lady Gaga perform in ‘Lady Gaga iTunes Festival.’[/caption] Sam Smith: Austin City Limits features the non-binary English singer and songwriter performing their greatest hits, such as “Nirvana” and “I Know I’m Not the Only One” on the stage at Austin City Limits. [caption id="attachment_146569" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Sam Smith: Austin City Limits.’[/caption] At the Quezon City Public Library A weekly film screening is part of the celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month of one of the country’s most active public libraries, the Quezon City Public Library (QCPL). With the theme, “Equality for All,” their celebration aims “to highlight the unique contributions and lived experiences of the members of the LGBTQIA+ community through various library activities and informational resources.” “This celebration also forwards an aspiration: that one day, we will be able to genuinely acknowledge the existence of our fellow LGBTQIA+ brothers and sisters as equally valuable as everyone. And that they too deserve equal opportunity in any given situation and honest representation in all of its forms, shapes and sizes,” the library explained. The film screenings started with Love, Simon and Everything Everywhere All at Once on 9 June and All My Life and Bekikang on 16 June. Other films to be shown are Perks of Being A Wall Flower and Boys in the Band on 23 June, and Eternals and Imitation Game on 30 June. Screenings are from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Conference Room of QCPL. Contact the library to reserve slots. At the UPFI Film Center The University of the Philippines Film Institute also had screenings of LGBTQ+ films on 17 June, in partnership with the UP Diliman Gender Office. Shown were short films Gutab, Dory, Niknik, Kurozetto, Bakit, Papa? and Nang Maglublob Ako sa isang Mangkok ng Liwanag. The post Pride screenings showcase a rainbow of stories appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pinoys’ robust spending despite inflation noted
INDONESIA — Filipino consumers exhibit robust spending habits despite high inflation in the Philippines, an official of Mastercard said on Wednesday. In a television interview, Mastercard country manager for the Philippines Simon Calasanz said Filipinos are visiting grocery stores more frequently during post-pandemic but purchasing smaller quantities. He said Filipino consumers still spend money on moderately priced restaurants and less on high-end dining establishments amid the high inflation. To recall, inflation in the Philippines has eased in the last three months, decelerating to 6.6 percent in April. “Even in a high inflation environment, we continue to see strong spending. The fact that we’re seeing inflation taper off in the past 3 months, I think we can continue to see good news in terms of consumer spending in the next few months,” Calasanz said. Smart spending Meanwhile, a separate report by processing and packaging solutions firm Tetra Pak and multinational market research firm Ipsos on Wednesday suggested that Filipino consumers have become more intelligent and adaptable in their shopping habits in response to economic challenges that affect their spending power. In a study titled “Trendipedia 2023”, Tetra Pak and Ipsos identified emerging shopping trends such as “flexi-shopping” and “eatertainment” among consumers in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. The study particularly found that around 88 percent of Filipino consumers save less to sustain their current lifestyle. The study explained that consumers usually tend to look for alternatives that are also good, quality products. ‘We remain committed to playing our part in developing breakthrough solutions that will help shape a more sustainable tomorrow for people on our planet.’ Billie Ing, global head of trends and foresight at Ipsos Strategy3, explained that these trends emerged due to inflation and other global challenges which reduced consumers’ disposable income and influenced their priorities. “These days, consumers are setting new priorities and standards regarding where and when they use their money, impacting their spending habits. As a result, companies need to be more creative in attracting consumers to choose their products today,” Ing said. John Jose, marketing director of Tetra Pak for Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia, explained that “flexi-shopping” is a trend where consumers adjust their spending behavior based on their needs and priorities, sometimes cutting back on expenses but still splurging on products and services that provide additional benefits, such as those related to health. Another trend identified in the report is “eatertainment,” which involves consumers exploring new flavors, recipes and food trends that they had seen online. The report suggests that brands should consider exploring games, creative content, and social media to reach out to Gen Zs, who respond positively to these media. The report also notes that social media influencers and content creators significantly spread food trends. Among other major themes, the report identifies “life hacks” and “evolving spaces,” according to Tetra Pak. “We remain committed to playing our part in developing breakthrough solutions that will help shape a more sustainable tomorrow for people on our planet. The Trendipedia report holds many insights that can help our customers improve any dimension of their business and drive performance,” Jose said. The post Pinoys’ robust spending despite inflation noted appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Billie Eilish tinanggal ang socmed apps sa phone: I don’t look at it anymore!
MAGPAPAHINGA na muna sa social media ang international pop star na si Billie Eilish. Ito ang ibinalita mismo ng singer sa isang exclusive podcast interview ng American Tv host na si Conan O’Brien. Ibinunyag ni Billie na tinanggal na niya ang lahat ng social media apps sa kanyang cellphone bilang paraan na maprotektahan ang kanyang […] The post Billie Eilish tinanggal ang socmed apps sa phone: I don’t look at it anymore! appeared first on Bandera......»»
Happier than ever : Billie Eilish deletes all social media apps on her phone
Singer Billie Eilish has admitted to taking out all the social media applications she had on her phone and isn't regretting it at all......»»
Betty
“Billie Mary” was her given name but when classmates would tease her because they considered it more of a boy’s name, her father decided to call her “Betty.” And for the rest of her life, she was Betty to all except perhaps to her Ama (Chinese yaya) who called her number one, since she was the eldest in the family......»»
1st major singles title ng ‘Pinas: Eala prinsesa ng US Open
IBINUHOS ni Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala ang natitirang lakas at humugot pa ng suporta suporta sa mga kababayang Pinoy upang kumpletuhin ang makasaysayang pananalasa at maging Pinay na kumopo ng Grand Slam Tennis singles crown, namayagpag sa 142nd US Open sa USTA Billie Jean King National Center sa Flushing Meadows, New York City Linggo ng umaga (oras sa Maynila). The post 1st major singles title ng ‘Pinas: Eala prinsesa ng US Open first appeared on Abante......»»
Alex bibira sa US Open
BALIK sa aksiyon si Alexandra “Alex” Eala sa pagsabak nito sa US Open girls singles competition na gaganapin Setyembre 4-10 sa USTA Billie Jean King National tennis Center sa Flushing Meadows, New York. The post Alex bibira sa US Open first appeared on Abante......»»
‘9 oras pumila’ Niana Guerrero super iyak, tili kay Billie Eilish
Pinuri ng mga netizen, fan, ang sikat na social media influencer na si Niana Guerrero (14.2M follower sa Instagram, 24M follower sa Facebook, 33M follower sa TikTok, 14.8M subscriber sa YouTube), dahil sa pagtyatyaga niyang pumila nang matagal na oras (umabot sa mahigit limang oras siyang nakatayo, nakapila), bumili ng mga merchandize, at siyempre manood ng concert ng idolo niyang si Billie Eilish. The post ‘9 oras pumila’ Niana Guerrero super iyak, tili kay Billie Eilish first appeared on Abante......»»
Canelo will return the United States to normal life; There will be 70,000 fans against Saunders
Mediotiempo Editorial Dallas, Texas / 05.05.2021 15:16:01 After three days of fighting between Sail Alvarez and Billie Joe Saunders, President World Boxing Council, Mauricio SuleimanHe.....»»
New songs from H.E.R., Billie and Olivia
H.E.R., the singer, musician and songwriter, is our girl of the moment......»»
Miss Cavite Billie Hakenson nangakong poprotektahan si Miss U PH 2020 Rabiya Mateo
NANGAKONG poprotektahan at maninindigan si Miss Cavite Billie Hakenson para kay Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo. Isa si Billie sa mga kandidata sa katatapos lang na national pageant na naging early favorite ng mga tumutok sa Miss Universe PH dahil sa galing nitong rumampa at mag-project on stage. Naging maingay din ang pangalan niya […] The post Miss Cavite Billie Hakenson nangakong poprotektahan si Miss U PH 2020 Rabiya Mateo appeared first on Bandera......»»
MUP 2020 candidate identifies as bisexual
BY NEIL RAMOS Kimberly “Billie” Hakenson, one of the candidates to this year’s Miss Universe Philippines pageant, revealed she is bisexual. “I’m Billie Hakenson, I’m representing Cavite. And I’m a bisexual, and I’m proud to be here,” she was heard saying in a video taken during an interview held in Baguio City, recently. When […].....»»
Cavite Miss U bet comes out as & lsquo;bi& rsquo;
Kimberly “Billie” Hakenson, who is representing Cavite province in the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 pageant, has come out as a bisexual in a closed-door interview for the beauty contest......»»
Billie Eilish drops ‘No Time to Die’ MV for ‘James Bond’
Grammy winner Billie Eilish takes the centerstage anew with black and white visuals and haunting vocals for the James Bond movie track No Time to Die which she co-wrote with her brother, Finneas. This collaboration puts the 18-year old Hollywood star as the youngest artist to ever write and perform a James Bond movie theme. No […] The post Billie Eilish drops ‘No Time to Die’ MV for ‘James Bond’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BATCH CLASH: Season 76 Bulldogs vs Season 81 Bulldogs
Seven years ago, National University made history by claiming its breakthrough UAAP men’s volleyball title. The following season, the Bulldogs blasted their way to back-to-back titles. It took NU four years to return on top after snapping Ateneo de Manila’s three-season reign before duplicating a repeat championship the following year. Two different breeds of Bulldogs will take center stage in this week’s edition of Batch Clash as we pit the back-to-back NU champion teams of Season 76 and Season 81. Just like in the past showdowns, we’ll see which team will shine brighter based on offense, net defense, floor defense, level of competition and playoff performances. Then, we'll let you decide which batch is better. OFFENSE Height, speed and power. That’s the name of the game for the Bulldogs. Both teams took advantage of these strengths to extend their respective reigns. Batch 76 had Reuben Inaudito, Edwin Tolentino, Peter Torres and Berlin Paglinawan while Batch 81 featured the high-flying Bryan Bagunas, Nico Almendras and James Natividad. With the departure of Ateneo’s Marck Espejo, Bagunas dominated the scoring category in Season 81. The 6-foot-5 open spiker averaged 20.3 points per game in his swan song. Bagunas was also hitting with precision, nailing 53.49% success rate in attacks while landing an average of 0.47 ace per frame. Bagunas had a steady back-up with Almendras averaging 10.2 points per game while Natividad normed with nine markers per outing. Natividad had a 42.92% spike success rate and averaged 0.24 ace per set while Almendras had a 38.93% attacking rate. Compared to Batch 81, the Bulldogs of Season 76 had more balanced scoring. Inaudito averaged 12.1 points per game with a 40.18% success rate in kills and an average of 0.23 ace per frame. Paglinawan averaged 11.5 points per game, Torres had 10.3 markers per outing while Tolentino normed 9.8 points. Tolentino was hitting 36.14% with a 0.31 average ace per set. In the setters’ head-to-head match-up, Vince Mangulabnan was dishing out an average of 6.75 excellent sets per frame while Owa Retamar had 7.40 assists per set. Incidentally, both NU playmakers finished second in the category to Ateneo setters Ish Polvorosa and Lawrence Magadia, in their respective seasons. As a team, Batch 76 had a 41.96% success rate in spikes and landed an average of 1.17 aces per set. Batch 81 recorded a 45.82% success rate in attacks with 1.27 aces per frame. In setting, Batch 76 tallied 6.98 average excellent sets per frame compared to Batch 81’s 7.84. NET DEFENSE In the battle of defensive walls, Batch 76 had three players in the top 10. Torres averaged 0.69 kill blocks per set, Reyson Fuentes had 0.62 while Inaudito posted 0.54. Batch 76 normed 3.10 kills blocks per frame. Taking care of business at the net for Batch 81 were Francis Saura (0.62), Kim Malabunga (0.49) and Almendras (0.47). Batch 81 averaged 2.80 kill blocks per set. FLOOR DEFENSE Floor defense wasn’t really the strong suit of NU ever since. Both batches did struggle when their net defense didn't work the way they wanted it to. Batch 76 was dead last in digs as a team with just 3.87 digs per set and its reception wasn’t impressive either with just a 21.29% efficiency. Libero Mark Dizon of Batch 76 averaged 1.27 digs per set and a 29.74% efficiency in reception. Batch 81 averaged 11.24 digs per set with a decent 55.61% efficiency rate in reception. However, unlike Batch 76, the Season 81 Bulldogs didn’t rely too much in their libero for digs. Ricky Marcos had 3.51 digs per set and was backed by Natividad’s 2.42. Marcos had a 62.20% reception efficiency. LEVEL OF COMPETITION Batch 76 saw the rise of what would become one of the most explosive and well-rounded players in the UAAP in years. Ateneo’s then rookie Espejo made an immediate impact in his first year together with Blue Eagles Rex Intal and Ysay Marasigan. University of Sto. Tomas had that season’s top scorer Mark Alfafara, Romnick Rico and Anthony Arbast. Bannering Adamson University were Michael Sudaria and Bryan Saraza while Red Christensen and Raymark Woo led De La Salle University. Far Eastern University had Ian Dela Calzada, Greg Dolor and Alexis Faytaren. University of the Philippines was spearheaded by Evan Raymundo and Jeffrey Lansangan; while University of the East had Angelone Soria and Ace Mandani. Batch 81 also battled against a strong field with FEU’s Jude Garcia and JP Bugaoan; Ateneo’s Tony Koyfman and Ron Medalla; Paolo Pablico and George Labang of Adamson; Chris Dumago and Billie Anima of DLSU; UST’s Joshua Umandal and Wewe Mendina; Mark Millete and Jerry San Pedro of UP and the pair of Cliffor Inoferio and Lloyd Josafat of UE. PLAYOFF PERFORMANCE Batch 76 finished the elimination round with a 12-2 win-loss record for the top seed. The Season 76 Bulldogs swept Adamson, which had to defeat DLSU in the playoff for no. 4, in the Final Four to face a young Ateneo side. In the Finals, the seasoned NU squad bullied its way to series sweep of the Blue Eagles as the Bulldogs won their second title. Batch 81 started off on the wrong foot, dropping their first game against the Tamaraws. The Bulldogs bounced back from a bad start to win their next 13 games to take the top seed in the Final Four. They ran over Adamson in straight sets in the semis before crushing the Tams in two games in the Finals rematch of the two proud teams six years the making. VERDICT Who do you think is the better Bulldogs squad? --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles.....»»