Latest news with #Curamen
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
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GMA Network
18-05-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Berdal, Curamen take charge as Arellano repeats over Perpetual
NCAA By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News No five-setter this time around. Carl Berdal and Anfernee Curamen took the scoring cudgels as Arellano University reasserted its mastery over University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 25-16, 28-26, 25-20, in NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball on Sunday. Berdal top-scored with 14 points while veteran middle blocker Curamen grabbed seven blocks en route to a 13-point outing as the Chiefs didn't need five sets to upset the ALTAs this time. Back in their first round meeting, Arellano had to eke out a 25-18, 22-25, 25-14, 21-25, 15-13 win in a grueling affair. With the victory as well, the Chiefs cruised to back-to-back wins to improve to 11-5 while the four-time defending champions ALTAs, meanwhile, put their title defense in peril as they fell to 8-7. "Pinanood namin talaga sa viewing namin 'yung mga galaw nila, kahit sinong ipasok sa kanila, 'yun talaga 'yung gusto namin mangyari na matalo sila ng straight sets," Curamen told GMA News Online. "Crucial lahat ng games ngayon. Gusto naming makakuha ng twice-to-beat." Curamen and Berdal were effective all game long with the former unleashing a quick kill and the latter unloading a power hammer as they came out on top of an extended Set 2, 28-26. They continued their brilliance in the third frame with Curamen completing a running attack play that helped Arellano establish a 10-7 cushion. But Perpetual displayed its championship poise with John Castil fueling a 8-3 rampage that saw the Las Piñas crew secure a 15-13 lead. Arellano slowly sliced the gap as back-to-back errors from Perpetual tied things up at 18-all before AC Guinto punished them with two consecutive aces that swung the lead back to Arellano, 20-18. Berdal put together the finishing kick with two attacks in a row before two consecutive errors from Perpetual sealed it for the streaking Arellano. Kobe Tabuga paced Perpetual with 15 points and eight digs while Marapoc and Castil chipped in 13 and 11 markers apiece. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
