F2 Logistics Getting Ready for the Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix

The F2 Logistics Cargo Movers has been quite about their team preparation for the Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix that will start on October 8. Their roster didn't change a lot with only Cienne Cruz joining the team while former College of Saint Benilde stars Djanel Cheng and Janine Navarro are still working for their release order from Cignal.

Tried and tested stars Mika Reyes, Aby Marano, Cha Cruz, Kim Fajardo and Cyd Demecillo will all return as well as Most Valuable Player Dawn Macandili, Kim Dy and Majoy Baron, who were reportedly sitting out the Grand Prix in preparation for the UAAP early next year.

They are expected face a tough contender against a rock-solid Cignal squad with imports Lynda Morales and Laura Schaudt with veterans Venus Bernal, Paneng Mercado, Lourdes Patillano and Janine Marciano joining the core of Michelle Laborte, Jheck Dionela and Cherry Vivas. The HD Spikers also got Filipino-Hawaiian playmaker Shawna-Lei Santos from St. John’s University in the US NCAA.

Reigning champion Foton and Petron also fielded a lot of talent. The Tornadoes will be bringing in Lindsay Stalzer and Ariel Usher with Jaja Santiago, Rhea Dimaculangan, Angeli Araneta and Maika Ortiz while the Tri-Activ Spikers parade the intact core of Frances Molina, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Maica Morada, Bang Pineda and Jen Reyes with Stephanie Niemer and Serena Warner serving as reinforcement.

Generika, meanwhile, will have Ria Meneses, Shaya Adorador, Gen Casugod and Rubie de Leon to bank on with Darlene Ramdin and Polina Liutikova as reinforcements.

RC Cola-Army will be intact as Jovelyn Gonzaga, Honey Royse Tubino , Christine Agno and other military athletes will be back to join Rachel Anne Daquis, Tina Salak and Michelle Carolino in carrying the fight.

So who will be F2 Logistics imports? According to a team insider they are keeping it a secret, but that they are training their sights on a pair of prospects with amazing talents and great credentials: Ekaterina Krivets and Yevgeniya Nyukhalova. The team is wooing Krivets who is also being lined up to see action for PSL Manila in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship from Oct. 18 to 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena. She is a 6-foot-4 middle blocker    for Dynamo Krasnodar – a Russian powerhouse that won the CEV Women’s Challenge Cup in 2013 and Women’s CEV Cup in 2015 and 2016. The squad also campaigned in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship in Switzerland last year.

Ekaterina Krivets

Prior to that Krivets played for Dinamo Moscow together with world-class stars Fernanda Garay of Brazil, Nataliya Goncharova and Tatiana Kosheleva of Russia and Sanja Popovic of Serbia.

She won a gold medal for Russia in the Belogorod Summer Universiade in 2008 and four silver medals in the championship of Russia. She also had a brief appearance for Volero Zurich, which is regarded as the richest club in Switzerland.

Yevgeniya Nyukhalova

Yevgeniya Nyukhalova is 6'4" spiker from Ukraine who saw action for VK Severodontchanka in Ukraine, Volero Zurich in Switzerland and ES Le Cannet in France. She also participated for the Swiss powerhouse in the past two editions of the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship in 2014 and 2015 and, probably, for PSL Manila this year.
 

Macandili Snag Historic MVP Award

Right after the media interview, Libero Dawn Macandili hurriedly exited out of the FilOil Flying V Centre press room holding a bouquet of flowers on one hand and a shiny silver plaque on the other. At the door, Macandili’s parents greeted her with a hug.

“You made history anak,” Macandili’s father told her daughter.

Yes, Macandili had made history. Great liberos have come and gone in volleyball but very few were impactful and be named MVP. Macandili is the first in a long line of legendary local liberos – which includes Lizlee Ann Gata-Pantone, Melissa Gohing, Denden Lazaro – to be named MVP, the most important player on a championship team. The 5’0’’ Macandili may not be as tall as her teammates, but she was the catalyst to F2 Logistics’ run to the PSL AFC title. Macandili had dazzled spectators with near omnipresence on the court; diving, leaping, and belly-flopping to save points. Although her teammates Ara Galang, Aby Maraño and Kim Dy did the spiking, Macandili made sure most of the first touches were clean and on-point, enough for them to get a good attack.

The longtime La Sallian had always been a libero. She won a title in the UAAP Juniors division then took home a Seniors championship just this past season; both she won with decorated mentor, Ramil de Jesus.

La Salle Defated Ateneo, reclaims UAAP women’s volleyball crown

The La Salle Lady Spikers earned their 9th championship trophy of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament after beating their rival the Ateneo Lady Eagles, 19-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-16, on Saturday (April 30) at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Kim Kianna Dy led the Lady Spikers with 17 markers, while MaJoy Baron chipped in with 11.

The reigning MVP Alyssa Valdez picked up where she left off in Game 2 of the series, powering the Lady Eagles to a 10-1 lead in the very first set.

The Lasallians eventually found their mark later on in the set, but failed to prevent the Ateneans from taking set 1, 25-19.

In the second frame, La Salle went on a run creating a 16-10 cushion. But the Ateneo Lady Eagles clawed their way back to draw level at 19-all.

The run proved to be short-lived as the Lady Spikers stopped the bleeding and walked away with set 2, 25-21.

La Salle finally found their groove in the third set, as they rushed to an 8-4 lead by the first technical timeout. Ateneo could not stem the tide, as the Lasallians went one set away from the championship.

Unlike Game 2, there was no more spectacular comeback from Ateneo, who trailed by as much as 21-9 in the fourth set. Valdez tried to will back her side into the game, but ultimately fell short as La Salle took the decisive frame, 25-16.

Valdez finished the game with 31 points in her final game for the Lady Eagles.

After the game, La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus could not hide the pride he felt at watching his players claim their winners medals.

Old Rivalry Ateneo vs La Salle for UAAP women's volleyball Title

For the 5th straight year, the Ateneo Lady Eagles and the De La Salle Lady Spikers will be up against each other in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women's volleyball finals.

In the previous four seasons, the two squads each won the title twice — La Salle in Season 74 and 75, and Ateneo in Season 76 and 77.

What will be the key factors for the Lady Eagles and Lady Spikers in this best-of-three affair?

According to volleyball analyst Miakka Lim the performance of reigning MVP Alyssa Valdez will be crucial for the Lady Eagles in the finals, especially because she's playing in her final year.

"I think everyone will expect Alyssa Valdez to play like it's her last, because this is her last season," said Lim. "They're only down to 2 to 3 games and she would really want her stint with Ateneo to end with a huge win."

Lim believes Valdez will be "very well-prepared" and that "she's going to go all out" in the championship round.

Aside from Valdez, another player who can provide a spark for the Lady Eagles, according to Lim, is Jhoana Maraguinot.

"She is very downplayed but actually the next potential player for Ateneo is Jhoana Maraguinot," she said.

"She has the power attacks that can be another option for Ateneo especially coming into these finals."

Lim, however, stressed that the Lady Eagles need to make proper adjustments on the defensive end.

"It's no secret that Ateneo has been struggling with their first ball reception," the analyst said. "[La Salle] will definitely look into targeting the people at the back."

An advantage that the defending champions have, she added, is "fresh legs." Ateneo eliminated the UP Lady Maroons early and have been resting for several days now.

"They have fresh legs, and they have new perspective of their opponents after watching them for two games now," Lim said. "I think they're very relaxed right now, no pressure whatsoever."


La Salle Lady Spikers


Lim said La Salle will prove to be a tough matchup for Ateneo because of their depth — any member of the squad can provide contributions.

"Every single game there's always somebody who steps up, that's how you know La Salle is not only strong on paper, but they can actually do it on [the] court," Lim said. "We've seen their lineup, they're really strong. On any given day in any given situation, somebody will really step up."

For Lim, though, two players that will likely be x-factors for La Salle are Kim Dy and Mary Joy Baron.

"We all are looking for the veterans Kim Fajardo and Ara Galang, but Kim Dy and Joy Baron were the ones who really stepped up," said Lim, referring to the win over FEU in the Final Four.

"Dy and Baron were the ones who were doing most of the work in terms of their attacks."

She added La Salle also needs to do well in terms of blocking and service, especially against a team like Ateneo.

Lim also said La Salle is on a high right now after the emphatic win against the Lady Tamaraws, and they need to carry that momentum over into the finals.

"La Salle will really have the momentum, but we cannot discount the fact that Ateneo has been resting and they would have fresher legs," she said. "It would be interesting to see how that all pans out in Game 1."

The rivalry between Ateneo and La Salle "never disappoints," she said, and fans can expect a great series from both squads.

The first match of the best-of-three series between the Lady Eagles and Lady Spikers is on Saturday (April 23) at 4 p.m. at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

PLDT Tvolution Edge Cagayan Valley in Super Liga

Cagayan Valley vs PLDT Home TVolution

PLDT Home TVolution defeated Cagayan, 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, to bag their first win in the Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference at the Astrodome on Sunday.

Skipper Sue Roces led the PLDT Tvolution Edge with 21 points, while Sasa Devanadera and Maru Banaticla chipped in 15 and 12 points.

Aiza Maizo-Pontillas had 17 points, while Janine Marciano got 14 for the Rising Suns, who absorbed their second consecutive loss.

Cagayan Valley Lady Rising Suns beat Generika-Army Lady Troopers 25-17

Cagayan Valley Lady Rising Suns got their first win of the season at the expense of Generika-Army Lady Troopers 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 25-17 last Sunday held at the Cuneta Astrodome in the women’s division of the 2014 Philippine Superliga All Filipino Conference.

The Lady Rising Suns started hot which was led by Janine Marciano. Generika-Army tried to launch a comeback but the combination of Aiza Maizo and Angeli Tabaquero was just too much as the Lady Rising Suns got the first set 25-17. They would continue to dominate in the next canto, with their relentless defense to bag the 2nd set  25-21.

In the third set, it was a war with both teams exchanging leads a couple of times Jessey de Leon save the Lady Troopers to win the set 25-23.

In the last set Aiza Maizo-Pontillas put an end to the Generika-Army Lady Troopers 25-17.

Janine Marciano led scored 20, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas chipped in 18, while Angeli Tabaquero and Pau Soriano had 11 and 10 respectively.

Photo credits: PinoyExchange and SolarSportDesk

NU Bulldogs beats Ateneo to win 1st V-League title

The National University Bulldogs go with Rubie de Leon in the crucial moments of the game to ecked out a 25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 26-24 victory over defending champion Ateneo and win the Shakey’s V-League First Conference crown yesterday at the Philsports Arena.

De Leon was named the Finals MVP. She showed her veteran experience to help the Bulldogs to rally from a 22-24 deficit.

A service error by Lady Eagles setter Jem Ferrer and a down the line hit by Mina Aganon forced the game’s last deadlock at 24-24.

De Leon then caught Ateneo backline napping with a corner kill that allowed NU to move closer to championship point.

Dindin Santiago then closed out the game with a hit in the middle, as the Lady Bulldogs went to the court celebrating their first-ever championship in ages.

Prior to their first-ever V-League diadem, NU last won a major women’s volleyball title during the 1956-57 UAAP season.

Taking over from Francis Vicente two months ago, Mabbayad praised the 30-year-old De Leon for getting the job done.

Earlier, six-time champion University of Santo Tomas overcame the absence of Aiza Maizo to subdue Adamson, 25-18, 19-25, 25-19, 25-16, and clinch the bronze medal.

Dindin Santiago led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points and four digs, De Leon had 13 hits, including three blocks, and Myla Pablo also had 13 points for NU.  In her final game as a Lady Bulldog, libero Jen Reyes collected 17 digs.

Alyssa Valdez paced the Lady Eagles with 16 hits, while Jeng Bualee and Rachel Daquis added 15 markers.

In the opening frame, back-to-back hits by Bualee gave Ateneo a 22-21 lead before Jaja Santiago and Pablo took over for NU to move within set point.

Pablo then atoned her attack fault in their recent rally with a soft touch hit for the Lady Bulldogs to close out the opening frame.

Continued what it left off in the first set, NU scored the first five points of the second frame.

But the Lady Bulldogs could not contain Bualee, as the Lady Eagles briefly took the driver’s seat, 18-17.

However, with Dindin and Jaja Santiago joining forces, NU regained the upper hand at 22-18 en route in taking a 2-0 set lead.

With their opponent’s poor delivery in reception, the Lady Bulldogs raced to a 7-1 third set lead.

With the setback, the Lady Eagles failed to give Ferrer and Fille Cainglet a grand sendoff to their collegiate careers.