Latest news with #ArellanoUniversity
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GMA Network
16 hours ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Arellano escapes Letran in Game 1, nears first NCAA men's volleyball crown
NCAA By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News Arellano University moved a step closer to its first-ever crown after surviving Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 27-25, 25-14, 22-25, 25-22 in Game 1 of NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball finals on Sunday at the Filoil Centre. The Chiefs can close out the series on Wednesday in Game 2 to clinch a long-awaited men's title. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- General
- GMA Network
Jake Pangilinan making up for lost time after missing most of his rookie year to care for late father
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News Instead of on the court, Jake Pangilinan was at home in Tarlac during most of his rookie year last season to care for his father before his passing. Driven by his father's memory and a renewed purpose, the 20-year-old middle blocker is now emerging as a vital force for Arellano University as the Chiefs make their Final Four push in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament. "Nu'ng rookie year po ako hindi po ako nakapaglaro dahil namatay 'yung father ko tapos ngayon lang po ako nakabalik," Pangilinan shared to GMA News Online on Wednesday. "Umuwi po ako ng province [last season] tapos nakabalilk po ako last year semis na po pero hindi na rin po ako nakalaro dahil sa nangyari sa bahay po." [During my rookie year, I couldn't play because my father passed and I was only able to come back now... I went home to the province and when I returned last year, it was the semis already. But I wasn't able to play because of what happened at home.] The 6-foot-1 net anchor is turning that heartbreak into his fuel this year. A key part of the starting lineup, Pangilinan consistently provides the help to his veterans in fellow middle blocker Anfernee Curamen, setter Adi Villados, and outside spiker Carl Berdal in their bid to make the finals for the first time since Season 93, following years only reaching the Final Four round. And in one of their biggest games, Pangilinan made sure he gave his best. He posted a career-high six blocks to finish with 11 points in their four-set escape of twice-to-beat Mapua University, helping the Chiefs drag the Cardinals to a sudden death showdown on Friday, where a finals ticket will be up for grabs. But more than the game, Pangilinan shared it's his way of honoring his late father. "Nagawa ko po 'yung dream ko para kay Papa ko po kasi ang gusto ko po talaga ay mapanood po ako sa malalalaking liga kasi ayon po 'yung dream niya para sa akin," he added. "Ang gusto ko lang din po sana is this season matulungan ko 'yung mga aalis na seniors kaya nagdo-double time po kami palagi sa training, hindi po kami nagpapahinga at nagkakaisa po kami lagi." [I was able to achieve my dream for my Papa because what I really wanted is to be seen in a big league, that was his dream for me... What I also wanted for this season was to help the graduating seniors so we're always working double-time in training. We don't rest and we come together always.] —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Letran ousts Arellano to book finals rematch vs. four-peat seeking Benilde
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News Colegio de San Juan de Letran made sure it ends today, pulling off a masterful 30-28, 25-12, 25-21 win against Arellano University to enter the finals of NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre. The win sent the Lady Knights to their second-straight finals appearance, arranging a championship showdown with three-time defending champion De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Rings, nets, and seizing chances: NU's Peng Taguibolos and his move from basketball to volleyball
A famous line from the movie Forrest Gump says "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." As cliche as it sounds, it is what happened to National University middle blocker Peng Taguibolos. Now a two-time champion with the Bulldogs, Taguibolos apparently played basketball before shifting his focus on volleyball. "'[N]ung first year college ko, basketball team ako sa Arellano University," Taguibolos told GMA News Online after the Bulldogs won their fifth straight title in UAAP men's volleyball last Saturday. Taguibolos said he was under head coach Cholo Martin and playing as a center. He was also playing volleyball back in his senior high school days before as a dual sport student-athlete. However, the COVID-19 pandemic then gave the 6-foot-5 Taguibolos the chance to turn his full attention to volleyball. "Kinausap ako ni Coach Dante [Alinsunurin], pandemic kasi 'yun, so parang naplanuhan na volleyball ang unang nag-open kasi non-contact [sport] 'yun so pinush ko 'yun, hanggang sa gumanda ang skills ko, feel ko dito ako mas aangat or mas komportable kaya tinuloy ko na," said the middle blocker. "Hindi ko rin in-expect eh kasi nga nung high school ako, wala akong pinapanood sa men's [volleyball]. Kinausap ako ni Coach Dante then parang siyempre, hindi mo naman mararamdaman, hindi mo mae-expect ang mangyayari. Basta nandito na ko, gagawin ko ang best ko, [ngayon] 5-peat champion na." [I had a talk with Coach Dante, it was the pandemic and it was planned that volleyball would open first because it's non-contact, so I pushed for that, until my skills got better and I felt this is where I would get improve and would be more comfortable so I continued on with it... I didn't expect it because when I was in high school, I wasn't watching men's. Coach Dante spoke to me but of course, I didn't feel it, didn't expect it to happen. But now that I'm here, I'll do my best, now 5-peat champion.] From playing with two different kinds of nets, Taguibolos now has two championship rings -- all from volleyball -- in his own hands. Asked if he will return to basketball, Taguibolos laughingly said, "Hindi na." "Maganda na career ko. Nasa national team na ko, tuloy-tuloy na 'yan." [Not anymore... My career is good. I'm in the national team. This will continue on.] Taking chances Taguibolos' career growth in volleyball, however, can be traced back to the time he moved to Manila, thanks to his maternal grandfather Tatay Ambo. The NU middle blocker said it was his Tatay Ambo who encouraged him to take the risk and bring his talents to Manila. "Nag-start ako mag-Manila is dahil kay Tatay Ambo," he said. "Si Tatay Ambo ang lolo ko na nagpalaki sakin." "Hinayaan niya lang ako, [sabi niya] try mo, wala namang masama 'pag 'di ka mag-try. 'Pag nahirapan ka, balik ka samin, may babalikan ka rito," Taguibolos recalled. "Siya ang susi sa lahat. kung wala siya, [kung] hindi siya pumayag, siguro wala ako rito sa tinutuntungan ko." I got my start in Manila because of Tatay Ambo. Tatay Ambo is my grandfather who raised me... He just let me be. He said, try it, there's nothing wrong if you don't try. If it's too hard, come back to us, you have something to go back to... He's the key to everything. Without him, if he didn't agree to it, I probably would not be here where I am.] Taguibolos' Tatay Ambo passed exactly a year before NU won its fifth straight title. "Sakto birthday niya ngayon so lahat ng ginawa ko sa court, para sa kanya." [It's his birthday today so everything I do on the court, is for him.] —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
19-05-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
A libero in high school, Anfernee Curamen now thriving as middle blocker for Arellano
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News Once upon a time, Anfernee Curamen was tasked with patrolling the floor defense as a libero. Today, he's dominating the net as a middle blocker for Arellano University in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament. The 25-year-old net protector shared that his former trainer, Jetro Baldonado, had him try various positions and he ended up playing as a libero back in high school given his height, which he said wasn't really tailored for a spiker at the time. By 2016, when they were about to join that year's Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA), he was converted to middle blocker after growing a 6-foot frame. Since then, Curamen has fully embraced the role as he now emerges as one of the leading blockers in the league. "Kung saan-saan (na volleyball positions) kasi ako dinadala ng trainer namin no'n si Kuya Jetro, wala talaga akong ma-pwestuhan," Curamen told GMA News Online. "Naglaro ako third year high school, libero pa ako no'n kasi maliit pa ako no'n e. Bigla na lang akong lumaki, 6-foot flat. Mga 5'6" lang ako nu'ng libero ako tapos bigla akong lumaki." [I was played at different positions by our trainer Kuya Jetro, I couldn't find one that I could stick to... I was playing in third year high school, I was libero then because I was still small. Then suddenly I grew tall, 6-foot flat. I was only 5'6" when I was a libero then I suddenly grew tall.] With the help of his former high school coach Joy Clark, Curamen eventually found his way in Arellano and would catch the attention of Sherwin Meneses, who previously handled the Chiefs before stepping down this year. Curamen's skills only sharpened while under Arellano's volleyball program ever since 2019. He proved just that on Sunday against no less than four-time defending champion University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, going off with seven blocks to finish with 13 points and help Arellano pull off a 25-16, 28-26, 25-20 victory. Curamen is currently the third-best middle blocker this season with a total of 41 rejections so far, trailing Vince Himzon of Letran (45) and Alener Munsing of San Beda (43). "Dahil kay Ma'am Joy, tinulungan niya akong makapunta sa Arellano. Siya 'yung coach namin nu'ng high school ako tapos isang taon ako sa Arellano ng Grade 12 then ginamit ako ni Coach Marlo (Estacio) tapos pagka-graduate ko hinawakan na ako ni Coach Sherwin and ni Coach Bryan (Vitug)," he added. [Because of Ma'am Joy, she helped me get to Arellano. She was our coach in high school then I had a year in Arellano in Grade 12 then I got playing time from Coach Marlo. After I graduated I was handled by Coach Sherwin and Coach Bryan Vitug.] But while he's flourishing individually, Curamen stressed his sights are set on helping Arelleno win its first-ever men's volleyball championship. "Gusto ko lang talaga ng championship. Gusto ko talagang makuha 'yung trophy na 'to kasi last year na eh, bibigay na talaga lahat. Hindi na talaga namin bibitawan 'yung chance namin ngayon, ilalaban talaga namin hanggang dulo." [I just really want to win a championship. I really want to get the trophy because this is my last year, I'll give it my all. We will not let this chance slip away, we'll fight until the end.] —JMB, GMA Integrated News
