The STANDS - An INQUIRER Sports Newsletter

 

February 14, 2025 NU is looking for another celebration-filled end to the UAAP volleyball season. (UAAP MEDIA) Hey there sports fan, Happy Valentine's Day! How about we fill your volleyball-loving heart with even more excitement apart from the ongoing PVL All-Filipino Conference?  Before that, here's a trivia question: Jillian Santos, La Salle volleyball’s newest recruit, saw action in the US NCAA for what school? See the answer at the end of this email. The UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament is set to deliver another thrilling season, and fans won’t have to wait much longer. With the league returning this February, excitement is already at an all-time high, with powerhouse teams preparing to battle for supremacy.  The NU Lady Bulldogs, the defending champions, are looking to extend their dominance, and head coach Sherwin Meneses is making sure his squad stays sharp and unfazed by the pressure. Meanwhile, last year’s runners-up, the La Salle Lady Spikers, are determined to reclaim the crown, with star Angel Canino promising to elevate her game even further. The tournament is also shaping up to be a hope-filled one for the FEU Lady Tamaraws, as head coach Tina Salak is banking on an intact core to push her team into serious contention. Stability, after all, can be a big weapon if wielded right. And stability is something that UST could be missing, however, asthe Golden Tigresses have suffered another tough blow with Xyza Gula  ruled out for the season due to injury, a setback that will test the team’s depth early on. Beyond individual team preparations, volleyball fans are in for a season packed with must-watch games and high-stakes matchups. The schedule is already out, with classic rivalries and exciting clashes lined up from the opening weekend. From NU’s title defense to La Salle’s redemption bid, FEU’s steady climb, and UST’s resilience, Season 87 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet. Get ready for an action-packed ride—this year’s battle for the championship is about to begin! Like this email? Forward it to your friends and let them know that they can sign up here. Kathleen Dubberstein and Marc Pfister have been doing great in Harbin.  (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Meanwhile on Plus... So, Petro Gazz is in a neat little run in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. They've got a firebrand scorer in Brooke Van Sickle, they work hard in practices and games and they have, well, boxes of donuts.  Also, Jema Galanza admits to struggling a bit with her game. And after catching fire in Creamline's recent win, she is determined to keep rolling. What we're up to next: The PBA Commissioner's Cup is heating up with the semifinals just around the corner so we'll be keeping tabs on that with features and game stories.  We'll also track the PVL All-Filipino Conference and slowly ease up into the UAAP women's volleyball tournament. Gilas Pilipinas will also be seeing action in two upcoming windows so keep it here. Number of the Week: 2 Referees suspended by the league on the heels of controversial calls during the Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals. QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I really like it whenever players truly want to play for a team, die for a team.” —Alfrancis Chua, SMC Sports Director and Gilas Pilipinas team manager, on players eager to join the national program. Hi Klaus, Have feedback? We're happy to hear it. Give Suggestions University of Illinois-Chicago. That's the answer to the trivia question above. Think you can ace the rest of our weekly sports quiz? Head over to our Viber community and try the test out! Buy the Inquirer at newsstands, subscribe to our digital edition, Inquirer Plus, visit our online site and follow us on socials (Twitter: @inquirersports; FB: facebook.com/inquirersports) for more stories and updates—or to send us questions or suggestions of stories you'd want to read. See you next Friday! Francis Francis T. J. Ochoa is the Sports Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For comments, suggestions and questions, hit him up on Twitter (@ftjochoaINQ).