Pinoy Spikers (Philippine Spike)

DESPITE of his looming two-season ban in the NCAA, Ateneo still has its full confidence multi-titled women’s volleyball coach Roger Gorayeb.

The Lady Eagles will continue to have Gorayeb on the bench as they continue their bid for the elusive first-ever UAAP women’s volleyball crown.

“Yes, we are keeping him (Gorayeb) as our coach,” said Ateneo athletic director Ricky Palou in a text message.

On his fourth year, Gorayeb steered the Lady Eagles to a runner-up finish in Season 74, which is the best-ever finish by the Katipunan-based squad since joining the league in 1978.

The NCAA suspended Gorayeb, who is also handling the San Sebastian College volleyball team, and San Beda College basketball mentor Frankie Lim for two years for their involvement in the brawl which took place at the San Beda Gym last Dec. 2.

Gorayeb suffered injuries and he was not able to show up on the next day in the Ateneo’s first round meeting with La Salle to recuperate in a hospital.

The Lady Archers captured their seventh league championship after winning two of their three finals matches against the Lady Eagles last week.

CHA Cruz fired 12 points in her final game for La Salle, which clipped Ateneo, 25-16, 25-22, 25-13, and clinch its second straight title in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Far Eastern University copped its first men’s championship in four years by dethroning University of Santo Tomas, 25-27, 25-15, 19-25, 21-25, 15-13.

By ending the Growling Tigers’ four-year reign, the Tamaraws booked their league-leading 25th title. Read the rest of this entry »

LA SALLE guns for a second straight championship against Ateneo in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Archers, however, will have to deal on a hard-fighting Lady Eagles, which is doing well in their first-ever championship appearance.

Pouncing on Ateneo’s lack of experience in closing sets, La Salle survived with a 23-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-18 victory in Game 2 that was played in front of a sell-out crowd last Saturday.

“Kailangan naming bawasan ang mga unforced errors kung nais naming manalo.  Magiging susi din sa amin ang magandang blocking at receiving,” said Lady Archers mentor Ramil de Jesus. Read the rest of this entry »

LA Salle pounced on Ateneo’s inability in closing out a set to register a 23-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-18 win and inch closer in winning a second straight title in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Saturday before a sellout crowd at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Down by six points in the third set, the Lady Archers held steadier when the going gets tough while Rookie of the Year winner Ara Galang delivered the goods in the fourth frame to bag the hard-earned victory.

In the men’s finals, Far Eastern University moved within a win of clinching its first crown in five seasons by shocking reigning four-time titlist University of Santo Tomas, 25-20, 25-21, 25-22.

By bouncing back from a four-set loss in the finals opener which ended its im Read the rest of this entry »

ATENEO shocked the back-to-back seeking La Salle, 23-25, 28-26, 25-23, 25-17, and seize the finals opener of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Eagles used its impressive blocking and reception to end a nine-game losing skid to Lady Archers.

It was the first victory by Ateneo coach Roger Gorayeb and the ‘Fab 5’ of Fille Cainglet, Jem Ferrer, Dzi Gervacio, Gretchen Ho and A Nacachi against La Salle since the 2008-09 season. Read the rest of this entry »