Pinoy Spikers (Philippine Spike)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas and Adamson made the race for the last two ‘Final Four’ slots more exciting by posting crucial wins Wednesday in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Maika Ortiz dropped a personal-season high 20 hits while Maru Banaticla added 15 points as the Tigresses bundled out University of the East of contention with a 25-21, 25-15, 25-16 victory.

Pau Soriano fired 20 points to help the Lady Falcons derail Far Eastern University, 25-18, 25-18, 21-25, 25-19. Read the rest of this entry »

FAR Eastern University and Adamson boosted their respective ‘Final Four’ bids after posting contrasting victories Sunday in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

In a duel of the league’s top two winningest teams, the Lady Tamaraws survived University of Santo Tomas, 23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-23, while the Lady Falcons made short work of University of the Philippines, 25-15, 25-9, 25-23. Read the rest of this entry »

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas dug deep on its bench to subdue Ateneo, 14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23, and boost its ‘Final Four’ campaign in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Maru Banaticla, Maika Ortiz and Judy Caballejo combined for 39 hits, but it was the reserves – Pam Lastimosa, substitute setter Loren Lantin and Jessey de Leon – delivered for the Tigresses to halt the Lady Eagles’ four-game winning streak.

“Lahat ng hinugot ko, may contribution.  Ito na ang pinakamagandang laro namin this season,” said UST rookie coach Odjie Mamon, whose wards avenged their first round loss to Ateneo.

Lastimosa, a niece of former PBA player Jojo Lastimosa, finished with 12 points, including four service aces, while De Leon added five hits for the Tigresses.

Earlier, University of the East dealt University of the Philippines its eighth consecutive loss with a 25-20, 25-21, 25-21 victory and remained on course for a semifinals berth. Read the rest of this entry »

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LA Salle capped a dominating season with a 25-18, 25-17, 28-26 win over University of Santo Tomas and complete a two-game finals sweep of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Despite the Tigresses holding fort to a 24-19 lead, the Lady Archers showed poisen late in the third frame to hammer out the come-from-behind win.

As a consolation for UST, its men’s team registered a ‘four-peat’ by outlasting Far Eastern University, 29-27, 26-25, 25-23.

“Hindi nawala ang intensity ng laro ng mga bata.  I’m happy na na-achieve namin itong four consecutive championship on our 400th year,” said a jubilant Growling Tigers coach Emil Lontoc.

UST scored a 2-0 sweep in the best-of-three series to clinch its 19th men’s title.

Team captain Cha Cruz, who named the Finals MVP, collected 14 hits for La Salle, while Michelle Gumabao and season MVP Jacq Alarca combined for 25 markers.

With a 16-1 record the whole season, the Lady Archers’ lone setback was a forfeiture midway in the elims when two of their reserves were found violating league rules for playing in an invitational meet while the tournament is ongoing. Read the rest of this entry »