Latest news with #BEAMICALLER
GMA Network
17 hours ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Zam Nolasco says Benilde's Game 1 win fueled by Round 1 loss that snapped their 43-game streak
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde stepped into Game 1 of NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball finals on Sunday not just chasing another title, but also redemption. The Lady Blazers were pitted against Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which was the same team that snapped their dynastic 43-game winning streak dating back to the pandemic-hit Season 95 in 2020. The Lady Knights stunned them during their Round 1 meeting, pulling off a 25-22, 25-23, 26-24 shock sweep last March 8. The Taft crew made sure it wouldn't happen again, especially with a bigger prize at stake this time. Benilde, though, had to endure a first set hiccup before taking down the Lady Knights with a 26-28, 26-24, 25-16, 25-19 victory to move a win away from its fourth title in a row. "Nu'ng first round, may dalawang losses kami and 'yung isa doon sa Letran. Pinilit talaga namin na hindi na sila makakaisa pa ulit sa amin and makabawi," Zam Nolasco, who starred in that four-set romp, told GMA News Online. "Nakikita naman sa game namin na maganda naman 'yung nilalaro namin." [In the first round, we had two losses and one of those was to Letran. We tried hard not to let them get another over us and to bounce back... You can see it in our game, we are playing well.] Benilde had already avenged that loss when they secured a 25-18, 25-19, 17-25, 25-18 win over Letran in their Round 2 rematch where, incidentally, Nolasco also led the charge with 17 points built on 11 attacks and six blocks. In Game 1 of the championship round, the third-year middle blocker was also in command after dropping a team-high 21 points built on 12 attacks, eight blocks, and one ace. While momentum is clearly on their side, the 6-foot tower stressed that the team is focused on leaving the past behind—including the last three championships—as they aim to close out Letran and complete a rare four-peat on Wednesday. "Sinasabi sa amin na 'yung championship last season, 'yung mga nakaraan ay sa seniors na namin 'yun e," she added. "Kumbaga, ngayong season na 'to kukunin na namin and ayun 'yung magiging sa amin. Doon lang kami nagfo-focus." [We're told that the championship last season, that's for our seniors... This season, we want to win this and this is for us. That's what we're focused on.] —JMB, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
2 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Benilde shuts down Letran, closes in on four-peat run
NCAA By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde recovered from a first set hiccup to complete a 26-28, 26-24, 25-16, 25-19 win against Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball finals on Sunday at the Filoil Centre. The Lady Blazers will shoot for a fourth straight title come Wednesday in Game 2 of the best-of-three series. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
2 days 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
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GMA Network
3 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Witness to Arellano's rise, Adi Villados says Chiefs' finals return is bigger than himself
NCAA By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News From the Arellano University Chiefs' tough losses to their slow climb back to relevance, Adi Villados has been through it all. And seeing the school reach the finals again after seven years makes the veteran setter proud and honored at the same time. However, the graduating Villados, a true homegrown product of Arellano, stressed the feat isn't his alone. "Itong pagtungtong namin sa finals ay hindi lang para sa akin, para din sa mga teammates ko na maiiwan. Boost din sa kanila na kaya nilang mag-finals at kaya nilang gawin 'yung ginawa namin ngayon," Villados told GMA News Online on Friday. The 5-foot-11 playmaker has been with the school since 2018, back when he was still suiting up for the juniors teams during his Grade 11 and 12 years under coaches Obet Javier and Sherwin Meneses. He then stayed in Legarda and joined the Chiefs for college. Now, he has emerged as the pillar of the squad in their first finals appearance since Season 93, ousting second-seeded Mapua University in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball Final Four. Before this feat, the Chiefs have fallen short too many times in the past. In their last finals trip in Season 93 in 2018, Arellano fell to powerhouse University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in the finals. They then made the Final Four again the following year, but bowed to Emilio Aguinaldo College in the first round of Season 94 stepladder semifinals. In Seasons 98 and 99, Arellano would fall short anew after absorbing losses to San Beda University and Colegio de San Juan de Letran, respectively, in the stepladder round. "Sobrang saya and sobrang honored kasi last year [ko na], meron akong iiwan sa school na ito nakapasok kami sa finals," he added. "Masaya kasi lagi po kaming nalalaglag sa semis and ayon ma-achieve na namin kung ano 'yung gusto namin." —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Brian Esquibel, architect of Letran's 2009 title, brings Knights back to finals
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News In 2009, Brian Esquibel built a dynasty when he guided Colegio de San Juan de Letran to its third straight NCAA men's volleyball title. Now, he has rekindled that winning fire, steering the new generation of Knights back to the finals after a lengthy 16-year absence. Letran did it the hard way. The Knights overcame an up-and-down Season 100 campaign that eventually led to a Final Four ticket as they finished at the fourth spot. They also had to face top-seeded De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the Final Four with the Blazers armed with a twice-to-beat advantage. The Knights, though, refused to back down as they stormed from that disadvantage and stunned the Blazers in back-to-back games to advance to the finals. "Actually, isa ako sa mga coaching staff that time way back 2009, when we got the grand slam. Siguro isa na rin ito sa mga naging motivations namin na kailangan naming makabalik sa finals kasi for how many years, 'yung Letran nando'n 'yung ups and downs," Esquibel told GMA News Online on Friday. "Hindi natin makuha 'yung tamang composition ng team so ngayon, hopefully, makabalik and gagawin namin 'yung best namin lalong-lalo na kaming coaching staff para tulungan 'yung team." Esquibel has seen the highs and the lows of the Letran program. He entered the squad in 2003 as a trainer before becoming one of the deputies to help propel the Knights to a pair of titles in Season 83 and 84. In 2008, he was promoted to head coach and played a pivotal role in guiding the school to its third championship, completing the historic grand slam. The following years were marked with challenges as the Knights failed to make it to the finals again — until now. The Knights pulled off a dramatic 22-25, 28-26, 25-14, 25-20 win in the do-or-die match against Blazers behind Bembem Bautista and Vince Himzon. "Gusto kong i-commend 'yung team kasi ando'n pa rin 'yung teamwork, hindi nawala kahit na naunahan kami nu'ng first set. 'Yung pressure na-handle nila, that's why naipanalo 'yung Game 2 and now aakyat na sa finals match this Sunday," Esquibel added. "Hopefully, madala nila 'yung pagiging masaya inside the court kasi ayon 'yung isang key, kahit na lamang 'yung kalaban nag-e-enjoy lang sila, walang pressure and na-overcome nila 'yung malalakas na palo ng kalaban." Letran will face Arellano University in the best-of-three finals which will open on Sunday noon. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
