Filipinas eye training camp, friendlies heading to World Cup

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The Philippine women’s football team is heading for a training camp in Australia or New Zealand to tighten its preparation for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in July.

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The Philippine women’s football team is heading for a training camp in Australia or New Zealand as part of its preparation for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in July.

Taking the lessons from their early exit in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, the Filipinas are looking to stage some surprises in the global meet.

The Philippines was drawn in Group A with FIFA’s higher ranked powerhouse teams in co-host nation New Zealand (No. 25), Norway (No. 12) and Switzerland (No. 25).

Some members of the Philippine women's national football team during the unveiling of their Adidas game kits for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. (PWNFT)

Due to schedule conflicts and club commitment of the players, no friendlies will be taking place in the Philippines.

“We’re trying to get everybody together around the middle of June. So maybe a camp in Australia or somewhere near New Zealand already to get them acclimatized and be ready for the World Cup,” said team manager Jeff Chang during the unveiling of the Filipinas’ Philippine flag-inspired Adidas game kits on Tuesday, May 16, at the BGC ampitheater.

Team captain Hali Long, who scored the final goal in their 3-1 win against eventual champion Vietnam, remained optimistic once they head to their historic maiden World Cup appearance.

“We lost to Myanmar and then we beat Vietnam. We just always wanna be better than we were in the previous game. And we will continue to do that up until the World Cup. And even past the World Cup. We have Asian Games round two,” said Long.

“We really need to just keep leveling up our game. I know the World Cup is the biggest thing we’re gonna do this year but it’s definitely not the last of like the Filipinas,” she added.

The Philippines missed out on the SEAG medal due to an inferior goal differential in the group stage, but confidence has never wavered for the team as they eye bigger prospects and better finishes moving forward to the second half of their busy year.

“There’s still lots of confidence in the team. Sometimes, it’s the breaks of the game, but we’ll continue to see how we can further improve and be more consistent,” said Chang.

La Salle clips UST, returns to UAAP finals

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The Lady Spikers needed an extra set to exact revenge against their lone elimination round tormentor Golden Tigresses and, in turn, book their 20th finals appearance.

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De La Salle downed University of Santo Tomas, 26-24, 25-22, 20-25, 25-19, to advance to the finals of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday, May 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Spikers needed an extra set to exact revenge against their lone elimination round tormentor Golden Tigresses and, in turn, book their 20th finals appearance.

Angel Canino pumped in a team-high 19 points on 18 attacks and a service ace, while Jolina dela Cruz chipped in 10 points.

Justine Jazareno took care of La Salle’s floor defense after tallying 22 excellent digs and 16 receptions.

The De La Salle Lady Spikers book their 20th finals appearance after a four-set win against the UST Golden Tigresses. (UAAP Media)

La Salle crawled back from its early 3-0 deficit in the opening set and kept itself beside UST in the scoreboard after the 12th deadlock of the game.

Dela Cruz and Laput then scored back-to-back points to put the Lady Spikers at set point, 24-22, but Eya Laure rushed back in action with two successive crosscourt attacks to tie the set once more at 24-all.

Canino untangled La Salle from the deadlock after going for an off-the-block kill before a triple block was put up to deny Laure at the net.

The second set was no different as both teams continued to exchange attacks, with the Lady Spikers pulling away late, 24-20, after a Canino point.

UST managed to inch closer within two, but Milena Alessandrini’s service error ultimately ended the set, giving La Salle a two sets to none lead.

La Salle couldn’t ride the momentum of the previous sets as its 6-3 advantage turned into a 16-8 deficit following UST’s huge 13-2 run.

After staring at the biggest deficit of the match at nine, the Lady Spikers slowly picked up their pace and got within two, 22-20, but the Golden Tigresses went on a conclusive 3-0 run capped by Hernandez’s solo block on dela Cruz to avert a sweep.

The Lady Spikers got over their third-set stumble and doubled on the Golden Tigresses midway through the set, 14-7, after Malaluan hammered down a crosscourt attack.

Laure then scored three straight points all on her own to put UST within three, 14-11.

Before the Golden Tigresses could stage a complete comeback, the Lady Spikers went on a telling 6-0 run for a comfortable 14-22 advantage.

From then on, La Salle never looked back as Thea Gagate’s solo block on Alessandrini put UST away for good.

Laure and Hernandez paced the Lady Tigresses with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

La Salle dumps Ateneo to seal top seed in UAAP women’s volleyball

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

Apr 23, 2023 05:45 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The Lady Spikers hiked their record to 12-1 and secured the No. 1 spot in the standings with one remaining game in the eliminations.

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De La Salle downed the ousted Ateneo, 25-22, 25-19, 25-18, to lock up the first seed in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, April 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Lady Spikers hiked their record to 12-1 and secured the No. 1 spot in the standings with one remaining game in the eliminations.

La Salle needed only 85 minutes to stretch its head-to-head record to 12 over Ateneo.

Rookie Shevana Laput came through with a career-best 16 points on 15 attacks and one service ace, while fellow rookie Angel Canino had another double-outing of 13 points built on 10 attacks and three blocks.

Middle blocker Thea Gagate, for her part, scattered her 10 points on three attacks, five blocks and two service aces.

The La Salle Lady Spikers sealed the No. 1 spot after dumping the Ateneo Blue Eagles in straight sets. (UAAP Media)

Despite trailing at some point in the opening set, the Lady Spikers bucked got over their slow start and sealed the set.

From then on, La Salle rode the momentum to the second set after turning a 7-8 deficit into a 17-11 lead over Ateneo.

Laput and Canino took turns in leading the Lady Spikers’ offensive scheme as they never looked back.

The Blue Eagles, who are missing out on the Final Four for the first time in 14 years, slid 4-9 in the standings.

Vanie Gandler and Faith Nisperos paced Ateneo with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The Lady Tamaraws held back the Blue Eagles from staging a comeback to stay in the running for the Final Four race and improved with an even 6-6 record in the standings.

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Far Eastern University needed an extra set to survive Ateneo, 25-21, 25-11, 22-25, 25-21, in the second round of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday, April 19, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Lady Tamaraws held back the Blue Eagles from staging a comeback to stay in the running for the Final Four race and improved with an even 6-6 record in the standings.

Chenie Tagaod registered a team-high 15 points on 12 attacks, two service aces and a block, while Jov Fernandez added 12 points.

Final Four-seeking FEU Lady Tamaws celebrate scoring a point against the now-eliminated Ateneo Blue Eagles. (UAAP Media)

Down by three in the third set, 23-20, Gerzel Petallo and Jean Asis kept knocking on Ateneo’s door and pulled FEU within one.

However, Joan Narit and Faith Nisperos sprung back into action for the Blue Eagles and denied the Lady Tamaraws a much-needed sweep.

Just as FEU began to pull away midway through the fourth set, 20-15, Ateneo responded with 5-0 run of its own to put the match into a deadlock.

For every Ateneo run, though, FEU quickly picked up itself courtesy of Petallo’s three straight points followed by an Asis block on Nisperos.

Tin Ubaldo then iced the game with a service ace to give FEU a fighting chance for the Final Four.

“Whatever the outcome, tinitingnan namin ‘yong two remaining games. Kung aabot kami and ano maging rank sa Final Four, blessing na ‘yon,” said FEU head coach Tina Salak.

Ateneo, which missed out on the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, was paced by three players in double figures, with Nisperos putting up 20 points. Lyann De Guzman and Alexis Miner, for their parts, chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing effort.

The Blue Eagles absorbed a 4-8 card in the standings, with two remaining games in the elimination round.

De La Salle dumps NU to sweep first round of UAAP women’s volleyball

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

Mar 22, 2023 4:10 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The Lady Spikers shrugged off the Lady Bulldogs’ resistance in the third set to complete the swift victory and improved to a perfect 7-0 card.

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De La Salle got back at its Season 84 tormentor National University with a 25-10, 25-15, 25-21 rout to sweep the first round of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday, March 22, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Lady Spikers shrugged off the Lady Bulldogs’ resistance in the third set to complete the swift victory and remained perfect with a 7-0 card.

Super rookie Angel Canino carried out a team-high 14 points, while Fifi Sharma and Jolina Dela Cruz contributed 12 and 11, respectively.

***De La Salle ends its head-to-head misery over reigning champion National University to stay perfect with a 7-0 record in the UAAP Season 85 women's vollryball. (UAAP Media)***

The Lady Spikers have not won against the Lady Bulldogs since March 2019 in Season 81.

Tied at 16-all in the third set after Evangeline Alinsug’s crosscourt attack, La Salle remained unfazed and went on a 3-0 run to extend the lead by three, 19-16.

From then on, the Lady Bulldogs wouldn't be able to cash in on their might as Thea Gagate sent the Lady Spikers to the match point, 24-20.

Bella Belen saved one match point with a through-the-block kill but Dela Cruz' crosscourt attack ultimately punctuated the match.

La Salle leaned on its defensive scheme with 12 blocks compared to NU’s four. The Season 84 finalists were also able to limit their unforced errors to only 11, less than nine to NU’s 20.

“Di ko inaasahan ‘yong na-straight sets namin sila. Sabi ko nga sa mga bata stick to the plan kung ano ‘yong plano natin na ginawa sa training. They played with pride di pwedeng magpapa-intimidate tayo. Nu’ng last year hindi tayo nakakuha ng set. Different team na tayo ngayon,” said interim head coach Noel Orcullo.

Belen paced the reigning champion with 12 points built on 11 attacks and a block as it snapped its three-game winning streak for a 5-2 record to end its own first round campaign.

Ateneo sweeps UP to end four-game slide

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

Mar 19, 2023 5:17 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The Blue Eagles snapped their four-game slide at the expense of the Fighting Maroons’ determined rally in the third to improve 2-5 in the standings.

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Ateneo downed University of the Philippines with a 25-16, 25-20, 25-22 sweep to end its first round campaign in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, March 19, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

The Blue Eagles snapped their four-game slide at the expense of the Fighting Maroons’ determined rally in the third to improve 2-5 in the standings.

Vanie Gandler led the charge for Ateneo with 17 points off 13 attacks, two blocks and two aces, while Faith Nisperos added 14.

Vanie Gandler delivers to help Ateneo end its four-game slide against UP. (UAAP Media)

After breaking out of a deadlock twice midway through the third set, all it took was Gandler and Nisperos’ three straight points to put away UP and seal the much-needed victory for Ateneo.

“We missed this feeling [of winning]. And we really hope that [it continues]. I thank the players for accepting the challenge to have a strong character in this game kung sino man ‘yong kalaban,” said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro.

Jewel Encarnacion was the lone bright spot for the Fighting Maroons with 11 built on 10 attacks and an ace as the rest of her teammates was limited to a single-digit showing.

Meanwhile, the Fighting Maroons fell 1-5 in the standings as they are set to meet the Adamson Lady Falcons on Wednesday, March 22 to wrap up the first part of the tournament. 

FEU escapes UE in five-set duel

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

Mar 15, 2023 2:53 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Tagaod carried out the game-high performance of 23 points while Fernandez had an all-around outing of 22 as they joined hands in the extended showdown. Jean Asis added 12.

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Chenie Tagaod and Jovelyn Fernandez connived to lift Far Eastern University past the gritty University of the East, 25-19, 18-25, 25-12, 22-25, 15-5, in the first round of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday, March 15, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. 

The Lady Tamaraws had to dig deep to turn away the tough challenge of the Lady Warriors and improved to a 3-3 slate in the standings. 

Tagaod carried out the game-high performance of 23 points while Fernandez had an all-around outing of 22 as they joined hands in the extended showdown. Jean Asis added 12.

Interestingly, it was UE which handed FEU its 11-game losing streak from last season during their second round head-to-head tussle. 

"Sobrang happy na first round pa lang, to be honest 'no na-exceed 'yung expectation. Since nandito na kami, hindi kami pwedeng huminto," said coach Tina Salak as FEU bounced back from its straight-set beating from the league-leading De La Salle last March 11. 

The struggling UE relied on KC Cepada and Van Bangayan who finished with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Ja Lana contributed 14 points laced with 14 digs and 10 excellent receptions. 

The Lady Warriors still couldn’t find a breakthrough and slid to a 0-6 record in the standings.  

UP turns back UE for first win in women’s volleyball

by Manila Bulletin Sports

University of the Philippines barges into the win column after a four-set win against University of the East. (UAAP Media)

By NIKOLE JAVIER 

University of the Philippines recovered from its opening-set stumble to turn back University of the East, 21-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-20, and pick up its first win in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, March 5, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

The embattled Fighting Maroons finally ended their 0-2 misery at the expense of the Lady Warriors, who, in turn, absorbed their third straight loss in as many games. 

UP, which has raised issues concerning its team manager dated last Jan. 29 and circulated online on Wednesday, March 1, managed to bring itself in the win column despite the controversies surrounding them.

Nina Ytang erupted for a career-high all-around performance of 20 points built on 12 attacks, seven blocks and an ace. 

Stephanie Bustrillo also came through with 16 points off 10 attacks, three blocks and three aces, while Alyssa Bertolano added 10 in their offensive production. 

After dropping the first set, UP would go on to dictate the tone of the next two sets to gain the upper hand over UE.  

“Siyempre very thankful kasi iyon nga, unang panalo. Ang dami pa rin naming mga kulang kanina pero of course kailangan namin ma-appreciate kung gaano ka-okay iyong ginalaw namin. And hopefully, mag-work hard pa kami sa susunod sa mga susunod na games. Sobrang competitive ng mga next games, so ready lang kami,” said UP head coach Shaq delos Santos. 

Janeca Lana led the Lady Warriors with 14 points, while Vanessa Bangayan chipped in 13 in the losing effort, as they slid to a 0-3 record in the standings. 

Filipinas yield to Wales in Pinatar Cup opener

by Manila Bulletin Sports

By NIKOLE JAVIER 

The Philippine national women’s football team got into a rocky start in its 2023 Pinatar Cup campaign after absorbing a 1-0 loss to the higher-ranked Wales at the Pinatar Arena in Spain on Wednesday, Feb. 15 (Thursday, Manila time).

The Filipinas couldn’t convert an equalizer after playing a promising defense for most of the first half against the 32nd-ranked Welsh side.  

National team center-back Dominique Randle handed over a penalty after a miscue on her end just as the first half was about to conclude, giving Kayleigh Green of Wales the chance to nail the first and only goal of the match past Philippine goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel at the 45th minute. 

Staring at the deficit, the Filipinas quickly sprung back to action in the ensuing half with Katrina Guillou being brought in and firing a good shot at the 47th minute which was ultimately turned back by Wales keeper Safia Middleton-Patel.

Despite being limited in possessions for most of the contest, the national team refused to let the Welsh get their way once more in added time with McDaniel’s crucial save that kept the score at 1-nil. 

However, time would run out for any last-ditch effort as the Filipinas will remain scoreless in full-time.  

In the earlier play, Iceland defeated Scotland, 2-0, to surge to an early lead in the tournament. 

Meanwhile, the 53rd-ranked Filipinas will attempt to bounce back against the world No. 25. Scotland on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 p.m. (Manila time) at the same venue.