ADMU Team while Training: Who are these new faces?

Amidst the frenzy on Twitter about who will be enrolling where, this photo surfaced credited to some Mr. Nolasco. Jem Ferrer once revealed to @VolleyballDonya before that Ateneo only had three recruits as we posted before: Morado, Gopico and Gequillana.

But lo and behold! There are lots of new faces in this picture. The girl sitting beside Ahomiro is supposed to be Mendiola, the 6ft. 2in. middle/open hitter.

Hmm. Interesting. Comments?

Thoughts on Game Two: Of Referees and Booing

THE REFEREE

I chanced upon these tweets about the referee Lumer Pajarillo:

@gretchenho11h

Controversial calls. Hmmm. Wait for a stronger Ateneo in Game 3. #OBF

‏@UAAP_updates10h

Papa-IMBESTIGADOR ko na talaga si Lumer Pajarillo , hehe! last mo na yan Ref. nag aaway ang both fans ng ADMU and NU dahil sa new rules mo.

@VolleyballDonya10h

Na-Lumer Pajarillo ka! Yun yung nagbibilang ka tapos nalagpasan mo yung #3. Ex: 1... 2... 4...

‏@jesseydeleon4 Apr

“@Benggadora08: "You touched the net @jesseydeleon.." -Lumer Pajarillo #BestLieEver” HAHAHAHA!! :))

@Benggadora0819 Mar

Sana kunin ding Guest Hurado sa Showtime si Lumer Pajarillo. Nang mahasa niya ang kanyang judging skills at di puro bad calls sa UAAP! KLK!

Well, if you type Lumer Pajarillo on your twitter search bars, you'll see how he's being bashed like he's the new Amalayer girl. One lesson, don't make  bad calls on a team who has the most Twitter followers and fans. Second, don't make bad calls AT ALL.

Well, through some quick research, I found out there've been some issues regarding Pajarillo before. Like the one regarding the La Salle Men's Volleyball team. Here's the link: http://thelasallian.com/2012/03/28/green-spikers-ends-season-via-controversial-call-clinches-fourth/

Nobody is perfect. We have to give him that. But when it comes to crucial games and your ONLY job is to make good calls, you HAVE to make good calls. Valdez has to spike. Gumabao has to block. Reyes has to dive. Maraño has to lead. And Pajarillo has to make good calls. That's how it's supposed to be.

When a game is as controversial as the ADMU vs. NU game yesterday, wrong calls (mind the S after the word, as in plural) made by the referee(s) kinda destroy the game. It makes the losers feel like they were cheated. And worse, it makes the winners feel like they did not really win. It takes the meaning out of things. How would any team feel if they won the championship just because the referee made wrong calls against the opponent?

I'm not saying Pajarillo should be fired or something. I guess he, and the entire group of referees and management of the Shakey's V-League should look into this issue and find ways to make it NOT happen again.

ON BOOING

I admit, yesterday I booed at the referee too. I couldn't help it. When you're in the Arena and you see how frustrated the players looked after losing a point for no good reason, you sort of feel for them. 

But when the Ateneo crowd started booing at Aiko Urdas, Myla Pablo, Dindin Santiago and some other NU players while they were serving, I was like, wait, this is not right. These girls are not doing anything worng! Outrageous!

Anyway, I was seated beside an NU fan (in a row full of ADMU fans) and she pointed to Jaja and Dindin Santiago's older sister who was seated with NU Men's Volleyball Team star Peter Torres. I observed how they reacted to the game and was really amazed at how they clapped every time a point was made, no matter WHO made the point. Of course, there was more enthusiasm when someone from the Bulldogs team scored but hey, no booing seen there.

Two words for those who booed: Stop it! First, you're not really helping your team win. Second, you are bullying some players who aren't doing anything aside from playing really well. From our seats yesterday, some Ateneo fans (based on their shirts) were shouting "Go Pablo!" just to neutralize the boos. Maybe they also didn't agree on the booing. But wait, the admin of @ADMU_WVT thinks otherwise. Read his tweets: 

@ADMU_WVT11h

You want to win the 3-peat? Help the girls! Bring a big blue crowd. Boo if you must. #AngryBirdsMode #OBF

@ADMU_WVT12h

Ateneo fans, Be FIERCE on Sunday too. Distract the opponent especially when serving. Bring horns & other noise makers. #AngryBirdsMode #OBF

What can you say about this?

There's HOpe in aHOmiro!

Did you notice how the games yesterday were very similar to the quarterfinals game last May 05? It's just that this time, the results were reversed. In the May 05 game, UST defeated AdU in 5 sets and ADMU lost to NU in 3 sets. Yesterday, AdU defeated UST in 5 sets and NU lost to ADMU in 3 sets.

So what brought up the reversal of fortunes?

In the UST vs. AdU game, I think it was the confidence and strength the Falcons have developed in battling with NU for the finals seat. The Adamson girls have mastered the art of staying composed and focused no matter what the score is. UST and AdU are just very well matched. I'm expecting another five-setter next Sunday with no idea who will win.

As for the second game, it was a HUGE surprise. Although everyone expected the Lady Eagles to give a better fight due to the addition of Jeng Bualee, I think very few expected a 3-set win for the Katipunan-based squad. In fact, many were guessing that NU will win again but in more than three sets. Well, it did not happen.

What made the 3-set win possible for the Eagles?

1. Confidence. This word spelled a world of difference for the two teams. Ateneo coming from a sweep of the Lady Tigresses in the semis and with Bualee on their side, played coolly. They were able to minimize their errors, come up with good receptions, performed better serves and were able to execute their attacks well. NU on the other hand played like they were unsure of themselves. Was it the crowd of Ateneo fans? Was it the pressure to get their first championship title? Whatever it was, they need to overcome that in game 2.

2. Bualee. Of course, everyone expected her to deliver yesterday and boy, she did! She's like the missing piece in the Ateneo puzzle. She added those powerful and well-thought of middle and running attacks that the Lady eagles needed against NU, a team that has very strong middle players.

3. Surprise! Ahomiro! This has got to be her best game yet. She scored a total of 6 points (4-attacks, 1-block, 1-ace). Now six points might not seem too much but how awesome she played defensively made her the Player of the Game. Gorayeb has been training his reserve players hard defensively and it showed. Plus, the fact that NU prepared for Valdez instead of Ahomiro created an impact on the Bulldogs' defense. They pretty much were clueless on how Ahomiro played since she's not really being used in big games.

Honestly as an Ateneo fan, I felt so good when I heard about how well Ahomiro played. Maybe there's hope for Ateneo in Season 76. Yeah!

Back to the game, I guess NU has to be prepared for anything in the second game of the Finals. They never know what the well-experienced Gorayeb might come up with. The Ateneo bench just seems so much deeper now. Gorayeb can pull out a surprise weapon or two. Plus, the Lady Bulldogs have to gain back that confidence and swag they had when they were in the quarterfinals. They had more individual awardees. They even got the MVP title. They have everything they need. They just need to use it properly.

I can't wait for Sunday's game. More surprises please!

Top 10 Most Important Players in Season 76 (May Forecast)

First, let me explain what this list is about. This is not the same as the MVP title. In selecting the Most Important Player, I considered the player's impact on her team (how much of a loss she will be to the team if she doesn't play), her impact to the league (how much she'll affect the team rankings) and how well she plays her role in the team. Sounds vague? Well, let's just get on with the list. 

1. Dindin Santiago - Okay. I see some eyebrows rising now. Well, if you need proof, checkout the individual statistics in the Shakey's V-league. This girl is rocking it in almost all aspects. She is still the most lethal middle attacker. Aside from that, she has also improved her blocking and service. All she needs to do is improve her floor defense and she'll be a shoo-in for MVP. But why is she number one in our MIP list? Imagine NU without her. Imagine NU's ranking without her. Exactly.

2. Alyssa Valdez - She is Dindin's top competitor for the MIP spot. I'm still unsure what role she'll be playing in UAAP 76 but she might become Team Captain and be converted to middle hitter. This young girl is also doing well in the service area , scoring aces every now and then. What she needs to improve on now is her blocking and floor defense. Again, why MIP? Well, she's not just a part of the ADMU Lady Eagles team. She IS the team. It's Alyssa De Manila University folks. Without her, ADMU might be joining FEU, UP and UE in the lower half of the UAAP rankings. 

  

3. Abigail Maraño - Two-time MVP? She's the queen! Aby won't be awarded MVP twice for no reason. She is an all-around player. From floor defense to blocking to attacks, she is very reliable. But why only third? Well, as I have said, we also consider her effect on her team. Even without her, DLSU will still have a great performance in the UAAP. Yes, she's an amazing captain but her team is really such a well-oiled machine that can function well even without her.

4. Ara Galang - Aby's co-MVP in Season 75 will also play a huge role in Season 76. Without Michelle Gumabao, Galang will have to up her performance. Like Aby, she's also an all-around player specializing in attacks and service. She will have to improve on her blocking skill though. Gumabao is one of the league's best blocker and DLSU's defense will be affected if no one steps up to her level in the blocking department.

5. Mika Reyes - This popular player is on her way to becoming the Face of Season 76. But don't let her cute, innocent smile fool you, she can score points in the middle in the blink of an eye. Her quick, smart middle hits have been important in keeping the UAAP crown from the Lady eagles. Plus, her blocking skill is also an essential part of the DLSU Block Party. She will be instrumental in controlling the Santiago sisters.

6. Myla Pablo - This girl has been a revelation in the UAAP Season 75. I don't know why but when she attacks, there's a very high probability that the ball won't come back. Is it the angle? Is it the power? Is it the timing? Well, whatever it is, it will make Myla one of the most powerful attackers in 76. She's been UAAP75's Best Attacker and will also win the same award in this year's V-League. She also needs to improve on her floor defense and blocking. Together with the Santiago sisters, they form the deadly NU trio.

7. Jaja Santiago - A rookie in the top ten right away? Why not? Her height is such a big factor in the UAAP 76 games. She will be uncontrollable in attacks and blocking if she gets her game on soon enough. She is already playing well in the Shakey's V-league. In fact, Mika Reyes should already be training harder because she's no longer the most intimidating middle. Jaja can easily win a joust over her. Plus, her choice to study in NU just cemented NU's drive for the finals.

8. Mylene Paat - Who? I'm sure many of you were surprised to see her name here. But if you've been watching the V-league games especially Adamson against National, you'll know why this girl deserves to be included here. With Pau's graduation, Adamson is in dire need of a tall middle who can block as good as Pau. And they got it. Although a newbie to the league, Paat was in a close fight with Ortiz for the Best Blocker award. Plus, she has several months to prepare for S76. AdU will be almost powerless against the taller teams like NU if Paat did not join them.

9. Carmela Tunay - She is UST's strongest spiker based on their V-league performance. In fact, in some of their games, she has been UST's best scorer. Although she's been put in hot water because of her service errors in crucial games, Tunay is still the strongest girl in the UST squad. Without her, they'll be much less powerful. But she has to contribute more for the team than just those open spikes. She could improve her blocking for instance. And yes, her service.

10. Bang Pineda - This girl may not be the tallest spiker but she is able to get her balls across and they seldom come back. Her floor defense is also commendable. She is capable of neutralizing UST's Tunay, NU's Pablo, ADMU's other spikers other than Valdez, and DLSU's other hitters other than Galang. And I know it's not related to the topic but I really admire her for being proud of her sexuality and her partner. Cheers!

So yeah, that's it. But this is just for May. Changes will be made based on their performances and also on your comments so comment away! :D

The Curious Case of Mae Tajima

Honestly, like most Ateneo fans, I have been hoping since day one that someday , Mae Tajima will play a break out game and knock the hell out of all of us. But she's been with the Ateneo Lady Eagles for three years and she's still playing like a newbie. Maybe she'll play well in her fifth year?

I think Tajima has been given enough time to train and muscle up. She has been given enough chance to practice and develop her volleyball talent, if she really has any (I hope she does).

I hate to compare but in last Sunday's game, many fans noticed how active Jaja Santiago was. Even with that height. Even if she was not playing, she was always doing something, stretching, jumping, warming up. You can see the passion, the hunger to play a great game, the urge to help the team win. That's something that I've never seen in Tajima.

Although she scores points now and then, she lacks that fire that even newcomers like Tejada and Urdas already possess. That makes me wonder, does she really want to play? Does she really like the sport? Does she even care about her team? All right. The last one was mean, sorry.

This will sound harsh but it's been three years. If you can't learn to spike and block for three long years of playing with one of the country's strongest collegiate team, I don't know what you need to improve anymore.  Ateneo is in the brink of a fallout! I hope this never happens, but what if Valdez gets injured? Will Ateneo just settle for a 4th, 5th, 6th place after all those years of working hard to get to the finals? Adamson already has Paat. NU has Jaja. DLSU has Reyes. ADMU needs Tajima!

(Patnongon is there but well, I think she deserves her own blog post.)

So yeah, what is it with Tajima? Can somebody please reassure us Ateneo fans that she is training hard and is really working like crazy to be a strong weapon for the team? I know that nobody wants to be weak. That she most likely wants to play better too. But..

I guess what I'm saying is that, with the loss of the Fab Five, ADMU has officially become Alyssa De Manila University. And she can't do it alone. Tajima, a player gifted with height and a pretty face has to step up and do it fast. Not just for the fans, not just for the team but also for herself. She has become the victim of sarcastic tweets and FB posts of both ADMU fans and haters. Even the V-league commentators are being mean to her (I'm talking to you Sev, stop it!).

Please Tajima, if you're not doing it yet, please train harder. Please exert more effort. Please prove your worth. Do whatever it takes if you really want it. But if you continue to play lightly without plans of getting better, please bow out of the team and give your slot to some more deserving players out there. Just saying. Hundreds of girls all over the country would kill to get your spot in the Ateneo squad. Show them you deserve it.

(Disclaimer: This is not a hate post. I like Tajima just like everybody else. But I hope this reaches her. I feel so great when she scores, I just wanna see it more often. Peace out.)

The Jaja Phenomenon and How Other Teams Will Adjust

So now that Jaja Santiago has confirmed that she's playing with NU in Season 76, the question is, how will the other teams handle this 6-feet 4-inches middle spiker/blocker?

As I have said in a previous post, this girl will make a huge impact in the next season of UAAP volleyball. The Rookie of the Year award is just waiting for her. We saw how active she is on the court and how hard she trains. She doesn't sit still when benched. Instead, she continues warming up doing jogs and jumps in the corner.

So how will the other teams control this one hell of a middle attacker/blocker?

DLSU - Mika Reyes. I think Mika Reyes has finally found her match in Jaja Santiago. Jaja is not only taller than Mika, she is also a more powerful spiker. Mika's experience and confidence will surely be an asset but if Jaja will keep on improving her timing and court sense, NU will give DLSU a run for their money.

ADMU - Hmm. This is quite interesting. Tajima and Patnongon will be the weapon of choice for Coach Gorayeb as the two are not that far from Jaja when it comes to height. But the two ADMU giants will have to train very hard. They have to move faster and come up with better attacks and blocks in order to neutralize Jaja. If Tajima and Patnongon will not be developed, ADMU will have to settle for the bronze next season. There's no way they can get into the finals without a strong middle. Will Valdez be enough? Not really. 

AdU - Mylene Paat! Wow. This girl is surely a force to reckon with next season. She has the makings of a taller Pau Soriano. She already shows some good blocking and middle attacks in their V-league games. Plus, at 6 feet, she's not too small for Jaja. If Paat will be quicker and more powerful, Adamson will have little problem in controlling Jaja.

UST - I'm quite unsure about this but Jessey De Leon maybe? However, I haven't seen UST play against NU so I have no idea how they will adjust to Jaja. But De Leon is their best bet. She's not that tall but she's fast and has great timing. Maybe if Cortel and Hirotsuji will be developed, UST will have more chances of neutralizing Jaja next season.

Season 76 will not start until December so until then, we really don't know what will happen. What I know for sure is that, it will be one of the best Seasons of UAAP volleyball. Comments?

NU vs. ADMU Individual Match-up

@VolleyballDonya posted this list on Facebook. Here's the match-up and who we think will prevail (*):

Rachel Anne Daquis* vs. Myla Pablo
Fille Cainglet* vs. Mina Aganon
Jeng Bualee* vs. Dindin Santiago*
Marge Tejada vs. Jaja Santiago*
Alyssa Valdez* vs. Aiko Urdas
Jem Ferrer vs. Rubie De Leon*
Dennise Lazaro vs. Jen Reyes*

So it's pretty much a good fight. Daquis and Pablo are quite close. Daquis has more experience but Pablo has higher percentage. Cainglet's experience and floor defense beats Aganon's raw power. Bualee and Santiago are perfectly matched, I think. Tejada is of course, no match for the much taller Jaja Santiago. Lalamunin siya nang buhay ni Jaja. Valdez will rule over Urdas for sure although Urdas is no weak ooponent. Ferrer and De Leon are also at par with each other although De Leon is way more experienced than Ferrer. Reyes is also better than Lazaro but when Denden plays a good game, and supported by Cainglet, she can match Reyes' famed floor defense.

What do you think? *Sana Thursday na!

Good News: NU goes to the finals for the first time. Bad News: They will face ABCD(Alyssa, Bualee, Cainglet, Daquis)!

Even with crowd favorite Pau Soriano delivering for the Lady Falcons, NU still triumphed in the 4-setter match held a while ago at the San Juan Arena. NU won 24-26, 25-20, 25-15, 25-22.

So it's final. It will be the Eagles versus Bulldogs for the Gold and Falcons versus Tigers for the Bronze.

Of course everybody knows that NU Bulldogs took one big bite on the Lady Eagles in their quarterfinal meeting. Ateneo fans would be really worried to see them getting into the Finals and threatening the Eagles again. But that was before Thai import Jeng Bualee entered the scene. Now, it's a whole new game. Bualee will fill in the Middle Blocker/Attacker position which is Ateneo's weak point. Hmm, interesting indeed.

For the bronze it will be a series of five setters as two really resilient teams fight it out. UST defeated AdU in their quarterfinal meeting in 5 sets. But judging on how UST played against ADMU and on how AdU fought against NU, I'd say it won't be an easy win for UST. The Adamson team has grown so much stronger with the addition of Benting and Paat. Paat, although a newbie in the V-league, is showing a lot of promise. UST won't go down without a fight though. They still have Maizo, Dimaculangan, and Ortiz.

Who's your bet for the Gold?
	ADMU
	NU
pollcode.com free polls

How about for the Bronze?
	AdU
	UST
pollcode.com free polls

Bakit andaming galit sa NU?

First let me just share this quote:

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi

I think this perfectly describes what's happening to the NU Lady Bulldogs right now. At first, no one really cared about them and they had no popular player except maybe for Cai Nepomuceno.

Then came UAAP Season 75 and the once quiet and literal underdogs became fearsome Bulldogs who instigated major changes in the usual UAAP volleyball rankings. They became a threat to the Big FOUR: DLSU, ADMU, UST and ADU. They finished the season with an amazing Fourth place finish knocking out crowd-favorite UST and 3 of their players getting 4 individual awards: Jen Reyes as Best Digger and Best Receiver, Aiko Urdas as Rookie of the Year and Myla pablo as Best attacker.

So why is there a lot of hate against them? Three factors.

First, Dindin Santiago. This powerful attacker was "stolen" from the UST Tigresses. I'm sure there are a dozen better words for what happened but that's how I see it (sorry). Many UST fans were not happy with Dindin's transfer and more were annoyed when she lead the Bulldogs' in kicking UST out of the Final Four. 

Second, Myla Pablo. I'm not sure why she already has so many haters. In fact, in our poll entitled "Who is the MOST HATED player of all", she came in second after Fille Cainglet with 23% of votes. Her twitter account is even protected due to her many haters. I think this all started on their first game against ADMU in the UAAP 75. Many Ateneo fans were not amused at how this newcomer Pablo was staring down at their idols. In their second meeting, she played a bad game which many people thought was due to her detractors. Until now, many fans are picking on her. She even has a trademark word now, "spikeng".

Third, they turned from nobodies into championship contenders in an instant! Nobody hates the ones at the bottom, in fact I don't think I've seen any hate tweets about UP or UE. And NU will not have a problem with these haters if they continued playing badly and stayed at the bottom. But if you want greatness, you have to put up with the hate. Top teams like DLSU and ADMU get hate tweets ALL THE TIME.

And as for today's fight against Adamson, I fear that the Lady Bulldogs will again get bullied by the crowd. For some reason, ADMU and UST fans have chosen to support the Lady Falcons in their fight against NU. Maybe because they seem to be the underdogs compared to the formidable NU squad with their 2 giants. Well, I admit I am in love with Pau Soriano and how she leads her team to sweet victories. And when I watch the game later, I will cheer for her. However, I will also cheer for these Bulldogs. They deserve it. Dindin Santiago is obviously giving her everything in every game. Myla Pablo, Aiko Urdas and Aganon also deserve praise for how excellently thay have been playing. Jen Reyes will deliver with or without cheers of course. I hope to see Cai Nepomuceno play later. So calling on NU fans, come cheer the girls later! Show some love!

The bottomline is, there really is no good reason to hate these girls. Maybe there are times when Pablo or Santiago become too "maangas" or "mayabang" on the court but I think, well, I hope that they are not like that in real life.  (update: @VolleyballDonya says @iamMylaPablo is genuinely nice off the court.) Comments?

Funniest Photos from the Semifinals!

Now Showing: Jen Reyes as "The Mang-aagaw"

Jen Reyes in "The Mang-aagaw Part 2"

And finally, Jen Reyes in "The Mang-aagaw The Last Stand"

And Jen Reyes continues her Box Office records in her latest movie with Jaja Santiago "David and Goliath Girls Edition"

Top 15 Most Followed UAAP volleybelles; Is your Idol included?

The list is headed by the five most popular players in the league, Ho, Cainglet, Reyes, Valdez and Gumabao. Out of the Top 15, 10 are from Ateneo; 4 are from DLSU and only one is from UST. It's also important to note that ADMU rookie Marge Tejada is already in the 11th position. She has only played for 1 year!

Here is the list courtesy of @PHL_Volleyball:

#1 Gretchen Ho (ADMU) - 166,155 followers
#2 Fille Cainglet (ADMU) - 92,701 followers
#3 Mika Reyes (DLSU) - 75,814 followers
#4 Alyssa Valdez (ADMU) - 72,312 followers
#5 Michele Gumabao (DLSU) - 49,747 followers
#6 Dzi Gervacio (ADMU) - 39,689 followers
#7 Jem Ferrer (ADMU) - 37,102 followers
#8 Aby Maraño (DLSU) - 34,779 followers
#9 Ara Galang (DLSU) - 29,647 followers
#10 Denden Lazaro (ADMU) - 27,987 followers
#11 Marge Tejada (ADMU) - 20,935 followers
#12 Ella De Jesus (ADMU) - 20,180 followers
#13 A Nacachi (ADMU) - 20,179 followers
#14 Mela Tunay (UST) - 16,528 followers
#15 Mae Tajima (ADMU) - 16,503 followers

Wow! Comments?

In UAAP 76: Gumabao won't play, GoMorGe are ADMU's only recruits!

I'm sure many DLSU fans were saddened upon hearing the news that DLSU's Utility spiker and UAAP 75's Best Blocker Michelle Gumabao will no longer play next season. Instead, she will work as a host for some sports-related show. Shown above with her actor brother Marco Gumabao, Michelle will be graduating in October and will not pursue her masterals anymore. Instead she is planning to pursue a career in sports entertainment.

In the meantime, ADMU setter Jamenea Ferrer revealed to Twitter and Volleyball personality @VolleyballDonya that ADMU only has three new recruits for this year, the GoMorGe trio:

1. Gequillana, Kim (St. John’s) – 5’9 Middle Blocker 

2. Gopico, Ana (CSA) – 5’10 Middle Blocker, Palarong Pambansa MVP 2012 & Palarong Pambansa    Best Blocker 2012, Shakey’s Best Blocker (Manila 2013)
3. Morado, Julia (CSA) – 5’7 Setter, Palarong Pambansa Best Setter 2012, Shakey’s 2-time Best Setter (Manila) 2012, 2013 

What can you say about these two interesting news?

ADMU kicks UST out of the finals; Cainglet is POG!

For the first time in the history of the Shakey's V-League the UST Tigresses will not be fighting for the Championship. The Lady Eagles defeated them again for the third time in this season with the score of 25-13, 23-25, 25-23, 25-13.

Just like what happened two days ago, the Tigresses lost hope and energy in the fourth set.

It was a game full of errors though and the girls from both teams could have played a whole lot better.

I feel sorry for the Tigresses but hell, this is just one season. And who said fighting for bronze is too bad?

As for the Lady Eagles, they will be waiting for whoever will win between NU and AdU on Sunday. Fille Cainglet was the Player of the Game with 10 points coming from 8 kills, 1 block and 1 ace.

NU Forces a Game 3 After Defeating AdU in 5 Sets!

Dindin Santiago made sure her team will still have a chance for the finals by firing 27 amazing points coming from 18 kills, 5 blocks and 4 aces. Wow. She sure is running for MVP. The Lady Bulldogs gave the Falcons a taste of defeat through five amazingly well-fought sets, 20-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-21 and 15-12.

Thousands of fans were raving about Pau Soriano especially in the last part of the third set. Angela Benting was not as deadly as she was two days ago. Instead, it was Pineda who seemed really pumped up in the game. Credit also the Falcons' amazing floor defense in order to give a good fight.

Again, errors almost ended the Lady Bulldog's journey to the finals but they were able to gain composure especially in the fifth set relying of course on their attackers, D. Santiago, Pablo, Urdas and J. Santiago facilitated by their superstar setter Rubie de Leon.

The third game will be held again in the Philsports Arena (Ultra) on Sunday.

Where are the Top High School Recruits going?

1. Agang, Glenda (Davao City National HS) – 5’6 Middle, Shakey’s Best Attacker 2012 & 2013 (Davao), Shakey’s MVP 2013 (Davao) — DLSU
2. Cheng, Desiree (Hope) – 5’8 Middle Blocker/Opposite/Outside Hitter, Shakey’s Best Blocker (2013), Shakey’s 3-time MVP (Manila 2011, 2012 and National 2011, 2012, 2013) — DLSU

3. Ching, Audrey (UST) – 5’7 Setter — DLSU
4. Dy, Kim (La Salle Zobel) – 5’10 Middle Blocker, UAAP MVP (2011) — DLSU
5. Layug, Arianne (Holy Family) – 5’9 Outside Hitter — DLSU
Saga, Carmel June (Silliman) – 5’4 Setter/Libero — DLSU

1. Gequillana, Kim (St. John’s) – 5’9 Middle Blocker — ADMU

2. Gopico, Ana (CSA) – 5’10 Middle Blocker, Palarong Pambansa MVP 2012 & Palarong Pambansa    Best Blocker 2012, Shakey’s Best Blocker (Manila 2013) — ADMU
3. Morado, Julia (CSA) – 5’7 Setter, Palarong Pambansa Best Setter 2012, Shakey’s 2-time Best Setter (Manila) 2012, 2013 — ADMU
4. Ramilo, Niella (CSA) – 5’6 Outside Hitter/Libero — ADMU


1. Estanislao, Ninay (St. Rose) – 6’0 Middle Blocker — NU
2.. Singh, Jorelle (NU) – 5’7 Outside Hitter, Shakey’s Best Server (Manila 2012) — NU
3. Trinidad, Princess (NU) – 5’11 Middle Blocker/Setter — NU

V-league Semifinals Game 2 Predictions

NU vs. AdU

I'm kinda sure there will be a game three between these two teams. Yep, I'm saying that NU will win today. That is, if they play as excellently as they did when they defeated ADMU in three sets in the quarterfinals. The Lady Bulldogs has a great line-up of attackers, the best setter in the league, and also the best libero in the league. It almost seems like they statistically should win over AdU easily. But then here's one big word that they also have, ERRORS. Lots of them. I'm not sure if it's the excitement for the finals or they just became overconfident after all those straight wins but yeah, NU can easily give the game away with their errors. Perhaps with the pain of losing, these girls will have a better focus and stronger will to win today.

Adamson, ahh, how can I describe this dark horse team. FLOOR DEFENSE. COMPOSURE. BLOCKING. That's what made them win the first game and if they are able to play with the same intensity, they might even extend this to a fifth set again. Of course, another stellar performance from Benting and Soriano will be needed. And yes, Pineda too.

But all things considered, if NU plays their usual game, they will win this one in four sets.

UST vs. ADMU

I actually feel bad for the Tigresses for having to face the deadly trio of Valdez, Daquis and Bualee again. I'm pretty sure ADMU will win this game, that is if they don't make too many errors. Aiza Maizo will always be one of the strongest players to ever play on the UAAP court but let's face it, she's not yet in her zone. Given more time to get her engines running, Maizo will be a very lethal weapon for UST with the help of the great setter Rhea Dimaculangan. But as of today, Maizo is still not that deadly of an attacker compared to what she was before. UST will have to rely on the strong spikes of Ortiz, Tunay and Lastimosa to win this one. Quick attacks from De Leon in the middle will also help. One thing that did not work too well for them in Game 1 was blocking so if they do better in guarding the net this time, they might push a five setter. 

Ateneo is supposed to be having an easy time in winning this semifinals. With Bualee, Daquis, Valdez and Cainglet on the attack, they are easily the stronger team. However, errors continue to plague them. I suppose Bualee will be playing even better today since she already has had more playing time with her new team.

ADMU will win in three sets.

Jen Reyes Rules the Latest V-league Individual Stats from @PH_VLeague

As of May 14, 2013 Jen Reyes of the NU Lady Bulldogs remains to be the best receiver in the league followed closeley by ADMU's Denden Lazaro and guess who, Fille Cainglet! Wow. Cainglet is really making up for not too strong attacks by being the second libero on the floor.

1. Reyes 2. Lazaro 3. Cainglet 4. Condada 5. Dusaran 6. Diaz 7. Listana 8. Sangmuang 9. Tadeo 10. Obinque

Reyes also led in digging while ADMU's new guest player Bualee came in second and third was Condada.

1. Reyes 2. Bualee 3. Condada 4. Dusaran 5. Obinque 6. Bautista 7. Benting 8. Lazaro 9. Espelita 10. Listana

May 14 Game Stats courtesy of gmanetwork.com

Pau Soriano: The Silent Killer

While most of the volleyball world is grieving about the loss of Ateneo's Fab Five, there is also one player who will no longer be playing in next year's season: the very soft-spoken and under-rated Ma. Paulina Soriano of the Adamson Lady Falcons.

In a league reigned over by superstar open-hitters like Valdez and Galang, this middle silently but consistently led her team to some awesome victories. Although she might not be the most showy among the league's fierce attackers, she is still a formidable spiker.

For the loyal Adamson fans and to all UAAP fans in general, she is an enormous loss. We will never see her strong attacks in the middle nor her powerful blocking anymore in the UAAP.

Good luck and thank you Pau! May you do well outside the UAAP!

Lady Falcons hand Lady Bulldogs their first loss in the season!

What many people thought would be an easy win became the biggest and only loss of NU so far this V-league season. The Lady Falcons' almost perfect floor defense came to play giving the underdogs an amazing 5-set victory 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13.

Tigresses put up a good fight against Eagles in Semis Game 1

ULTRA (05/14/13) Offense won over defense as the Eagles proved to be too powerful for the Tigresses in their first meeting for the best-of-three semifinals.

The Tigresses showed so much confidence and composure in the first set while the Eagles played a scrappy defense leading to a score of 20-25. Alyssa Valdez was only able to come up with 1 point in the whole set.

An Open Love Letter To @Benggadora08 and @VolleyballDonya

@Benggadora08

Your passion for the Lady Tigresses is doing more than cheering them up. In fact, because of you, I have developed some fondness for this squad which I initially hated. Yup, I hated Ortiz, Banaticla, and De Leon before. But through your candid stories and conversations with them on Twitter, I guess I have changed my mind about them. In fact De Leon is now one of my favorite blockers. I am an Ateneo fan and I know what it feels like to watch your girls lose (a sharp pain that only real fans can relate to). You taught me that it's okay to feel bad if your team loses, or to be mad at the other team for being too good (or lucky :D). And I think the most important thing that you're doing is showing people how to be a fierce fan. How to love the girls even if they played far below their capabilities. Showing up even in the games where losing is almost as sure as the earth is round. Kudos to you. Go USTE!

@VolleyballDonya

I can't say that I always agree with you. Nor am I always amused by your tweets. But the fact that you are making volleyball even more fun in the social world is enough to give you a standing ovation. I can sense that you are not a fan of Ateneo (and I hate that fact really) but I still admire how you try to give everyone a fair chance of exposure. How you retweet fan pages and other fan accounts. How you make fun of everybody. I hope that you'll continue to keep the fire burning for volleyball (even during the off seasons). I beg your mercy but I am I right to say that you're a DLSU fan? Hmm. Well, to each his own right? It's also because of you that I started appreciating the DLSU girls. Especially Maraño during that 1st game of the UAAP75 Finals. Humor and spice, that's what you give to this sport. Thank you for that.

Together, let's make sure this awesome sport, including its amazing players gets all the popularity that it deserves!

Peter Torres: UAAP Men's Volleyball Superstar until when?

Unlike the women's division which has so many girls fighting for the superstar position, (Valdez, Santiago, Maraño, Reyes, Gumabao, Cainglet) the men's division has a very clear hero, and that's NU's Peter Den Mar Torres.

Tales of the Tape of Today's Games from rappler.com

both images courtesy of rappler.com

Comment comment din pag may time!

Your comments are welcome, in fact, needed in order to make this blog interesting so keep them coming! You can use "anonymous" if you have no google accounts. Game on!

Jaja Santiago: The girl who will make or break NU

Obvious question, how could one girl's presence spell the future of one team?

Well, first she is a force to reckon with both in offense and defense. Plus, she's the perfect shoo in for Rookie of The Year for Season 76. She might just be NU's answer to DLSU's Mika Reyes and the one to scare ADMU's resident scorer Alyssa Valdez. Although considered to be the weaker one compared to her sister Dindin, Jaja shows a lot of promise in their games in the Shakey's V-league.

Game Result Prediction for Tomorrow (UST vs. ADMU)

photo courtesy of rivals.ph

This game will be a game of Offense versus Defense. Ateneo is the better attacking team while UST is the better blocking team.

UST
Strengths: Better setter in Dimaculangan. Her setting will allow Maizo, Ortiz, Tunay and Lastimosa to deliver attack points. Better Blocking. Ortiz (3rd) and De Leon (10) are both in the top ten best blockers of the league and if they do their jobs well, they may be enough to slow down Ateneo's attackers.

Lazaro: The next superstar Libero?

Dennise Michelle Lazaro

Libero, ADMU

With UAAP 75's best Libero Jen Reyes from the NU Bulldogs waving goodbye to the tournament, ADMU's cool and pretty diver Denden Lazaro is poised to take that spot.

In UAAP 75, Lazaro competed with great liberos like Reyes and DLSU's Gohing. And with these two graduating, it's  probably Lazaro's turn to shine.

Fearless Forecast: UAAP 76 Final Four

Okay. Here we go. Judging by the way the players are performing in this year's Shakey's V-league, here is my very early fearless forecast for UAAP season 76's top 4 in Women's Volleyball after the eliminations.

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