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).

Couples who do yoga together, stay together

BY JOCELYN VALLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Yoga becomes more fun when practiced outdoors. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

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If you’re looking for something to do with your significant other this Valentine’s Day and you both happen to be trying to get into fitness and wellness, why not do yoga together?

“It is not just a physical practice,” says yoga teacher Carina Silerio, who specializes in mindfulness, stress management and reduction, pain management, mental health, chronic pain and diseases, women’s health, healing and recovery, and trauma-informed yoga.

“It’s a journey of the mind, body, and spirit that couples can embark on together, enriching their lives and their relationship.”

She tells Lifestyle, “One of the most significant benefits is improved communication. Yoga requires partners to communicate clearly and effectively, not just with words, but through body language and touch. This practice enhances understanding and fosters better communication in daily life.”

Silerio, founder of Flow and Recovery yoga and wellness company, points out that practicing yoga with your partner can also help strengthen trust. This is possible with yoga poses that involve relying on each other for balance, strength, and support, thus fostering resilience and confidence in each other.

“There’s also the deeper connection that comes from sharing this journey,” she adds. “Practicing yoga together creates a shared experience that deepens the emotional and spiritual connection between partners. It provides a beautiful opportunity to bond and grow closer.”

She elaborates, “Supporting each other in practice is a fundamental aspect of yoga. This mutual support fosters a sense of teamwork and encouragement, which is essential in any relationship.”

As for yoga’s stress-relieving benefits, the teacher with 11 years of professional experience notes that couples who practice together can share in these calming effects. This then leads to a more peaceful and harmonious relationship, as the stress and tension can be managed.

Practicing yoga with your partner can help strengthen trust.

Spending quality time together

“Additionally, committing to a regular yoga practice together requires finding time for each other,” she says. “This commitment to spend quality time together reinforces the importance of their relationship and helps couples connect on a deeper level, creating lasting memories and prioritizing their bond.”

Silerio has designed a couples yoga program that she describes as “highly specialized and tailored to meet the unique needs and requests of each couple.” It’s beginner-friendly and available either in-person or online. In-person sessions can be held at the couple’s residence or at Flow and Recovery’s studio in Biñan, Laguna. 

The program is priced starting at P4,500 per 60-minute class. There’s a 14 percent-discount in February. To sign up, email carina@flowandrecovery.com or message @flowandrecovery on Facebook and Instagram.

If you and your partner would like to practice yoga with a group, yoga studios have regular classes on Valentine’s Day. Community Fitness in Pasig City offers possibly the most affordable rate at P200 per class. Friday classes are scheduled at 8:30 a.m. (“Sweet, Sweaty Flow”), 10 a.m. (“Soothing and Gentle Yoga”), and 7 p.m. (“Power and Grace”). Find ComFit Studio PH on social media for additional info.

You can join the “Sunset for Two at the Park” this Saturday, 4 p.m., at Bridgetowne Park, also in Pasig City. This is not exclusive to romantic partners, says Jezreel Gibaga from the organizing team of Breathe Learn Thrive. You can partner with a friend or another solo participant.

Bibaga shares to us this class description from the yoga teacher Maruja Gondaya: “It starts from an individual practice to limber the body, followed by some preparation poses. The goal of the partners/couples is to create a connection and trust for both of them. It’s not a typical kind of yoga because yoga is a personal practice, but since it love month, this is a different approach that we can try.”

The rates are P555 per person and P999 for a pair. Bring your yoga mat and water bottle. For more details, send an Instagram message to @breathelearnthrive.

Getting a taste for cognac

BY ALLAN POLICARPIO

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Remy Martin ambassador and master class host Kris Ong. —ALLAN POLICARPIO

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Getting wasted on premium spirits can be such a waste.

If your goal is to simply reach Drunksville as fast as possible, there are cheaper, surefire ways to get you to your destination, say, a couple of pints of beer or swills of generic gin. But if it’s the journey you’re after—with the occasional aromatic detours or leisurely stopovers to savor the flavors—then by all means reach for the top shelf.

And perhaps a glass of cognac to set things afoot?

‘Exercise became my refuge’

BY PAM PASTOR

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Why does Frances love jump rope? “It’s a total body workout, it gives me that endorphin rush, and I get those rosy cheeks after.” —PHOTOS BY AJ LUMPAN

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It was Frances Crisol’s husband Jerby Corsiga who introduced her to jump rope as a workout.

“He was a fitness enthusiast, the typical buff dude with a lifetime gym membership,” she said.

Crisol is a self-confessed former “fat kid” who recalls being body shamed during her years in elementary school. She told Lifestyle, “In high school, I vowed to lose weight and was successful. Since then, I have always tried to maintain my weight—not with some fancy diet or fitness routine which I could not really afford back then but by moving a lot and being mindful of what I ate to keep off unwanted pounds.”

Regine the chameleon

BY ALLAN POLICARPIO

JANUARY 24, 2025

Velasquez, set to headline a four-night concert series titled 'Reset,' changes her looks every so often becaues 'mabilis akong magsawa!' —CONTRIBUTED

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‘Hello, Afghans, goodbye’

Regine Velasquez doesn’t stick with one style or look for too long.

Usually, she wears gowns onstage, but sometimes she opts for suits. It all depends on her mood, or “where I am in life.” As much as she loves experimenting with makeup, there are days when she just doesn’t feel like putting anything on. She will go out, appear on social media, or do interviews barefaced. Who cares?

And she doesn’t get emotionally attached to her hair. If it gets too hot and humid, she will chop off her long tresses—snip-snip—as easily as she can slide from her chest voice to a piercing head tone. No deep breaths needed.