Pinoy Spikers (Philippine Spike)

LA SALLE is on track in winning its second straight women’s title in the National Inter-Collegiate Volleyball Championship.

Dominating the competition with much ease, the Lady Archers, the reigning UAAP champions, completed a four-game sweep of eliminations Thursday in Benguet.

La Salle first beat Holy Angel University, 25-7, 25-10, 25-18, which followed up by a 25-20, 25-8, 25-10 plummeling of defending Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) titlist University of the Cordilleras the other at the Benguet State University Gym.

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ATENEO is back in the ‘Final Four’ after a one-conference absence, thanks to the consistent plays of guest player Alyssa Valdez.

Valdez sizzled with 18 points as the Lady Eagles slipped past University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 25-21, 25-16, 20-25, 25-19, and stay unbeaten Thursday in the Shakey’s V-League first conference at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

In the first match, National University sent Southwestern University of Cebu into the brink of elimination in Group II with a 25-17, 25-21, 25-17 victory. Read the rest of this entry »

PLAYING with different partners this time, the pair of Pau Genido and Amanda Isada of University of the Philippines are favored to run away with the title in the second leg of the 2011 Petron Ladies beach volleyball tournament this weekend in Puerto Princesa city.
Genido will be teaming up with Aya del Mundo, while Isada is paired with Carmela Lopez as all four banners the two squads carrying the colors of University of the Philippines.

Isada and Genido teamed up together in ruling the second leg of the same spikefest two years ago.  The Lady Maroons are just two of the 10 teams seeing action in the April 28-29 competitions which return to the Beachwalk of this scenic city of Palawan.

Genido expressed confidence at the weekly PSA Forum in Shakey’s U.N. Ave. of winning the leg despite having a new playing partner, who is the team’s setter in indoor volleyball. “Kaunting practice lang makukuha namin ito,” said the 19-year old Genido. Read the rest of this entry »

AFTER her sub-par showing in the first three games, Kathlene Magsumbol showed her true form for Far Eastern University to clinch the last quarterfinals berth.

Magsumbol held on her own against Thai import Jeng Bualee to lift the Lady Tamaraws to a 26-24, 28-26, 22-25, 25-13 victory over San Sebastian College at the end of the Shakey’s V-League first conference eliminations Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The setback send the Lady Stags (0-4) to early vacation, assuring of reigning six-time NCAA champions of their worst finish in eight seasons in the league.

In the first match, Adamson ended its Group B campaign on a winning not, scoring a 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 decision over College of Saint Benilde.

Magsumbol poured in season-high 20 points, including three blocks, all against Bualee, for FEU.

“Sinasabi ko na sa kanila sa practice na magsabay-sabay lang sana sila ng laro. At ngayon pa lang nila nagamit yung pinapraktis namin,” said Lady Tamaraws coach Nes Pamilar.

Before the match, Pamilar signed the scoresheet to file a protest against San Sebastian for fielding in Fil-Swiss libero Jennifer Salgado as its second guest player ng San Sebastian. Read the rest of this entry »

REIGNING UAAP champion La Salle begins its title retention bid in the women’s division of the National Inter-Collegiate Volleyball Championship which starts Monday in Baguio City.

This will be the Lady Archers’ first tournament since sweeping University of Santo Tomas in the Season 73 finals last February.

Except for Stephanie Mercado, La Salle remains intact in the week-long event organized by the Philippine Volleyball Federation.

Veterans Jacq Alarca, Cha Cruz, Abigail Maraño, Michelle Gumabao, Mika Esperanza and libero Melissa Gohing will lead the Lady Archers campaign.

Blue-chip rookies Carol Cerveza, Camille and Cienna Cruz will strut their wares for La Salle along with Team B players Wensh Tiu, Kim Fajardo and Rochelle Sison.

With some UAAP and NCAA squads tied up with their commitments in the Shakey’s V-League first conference, the Lady Spikers are heavily favored to win it all.

Aside from La Salle, other UAAP teams who ruled in the recent inter-collegiate editions are UST (2008) and Ateneo (2009).

Rizal Technological University will also stake its hold of the men’s division crown in the event, where Baguio City is hosting for the third straight year.  (TJ)