27 NOVEMBER 2018_1

14 SPORTS
Tuesday, 27 November 2018
Daily Tribune
NATIONALS READY
Tussles steel Guiao’s crew
Winning wasn’t the ultimate goal of those friendly
games with the West Asian powerhouses
By John Bryan Ulanday
Team Pilipinas may have dropped three of its four tune-up games last
week but head coach Yeng Guiao still liked what he saw.
With only four days remaining before their crucial matches against
Kazakhstan and Iran in the fifth window of 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian
Qualifiers this week, Guiao is optimistic of his crew’s chances.
The Nationals had split results against Jordan, 92-98 and 82-73 early
of last week before being swept by Lebanon,
74-68 and 71-60 last Friday and Sunday for a
paltry 1-3 record in scrimmages.
Guiao, however, said winning wasn’t
the ultimate goal of those friendly games
with the West Asian powerhouses.
“I was pretty much satisfied. We
won one game, we lost
three games. But
it was the
learning,”
s a i d
Guiao. “It
was the
Foton aim:
taint Petron
Petron is heavily tipped to sweep this tourney
BACOOR CITY — Tarnishing Petron’s flawless slate will be Foton’s
ultimate objective when they clash anew in the Philippine Superliga
All-Filipino Conference Tuesday at the Bacoor Strike gym.
Action kicks off at 7 p.m. with the Tornadoes itching to become
the first team to deal the Blaze Spikers their first loss in this
prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, Sogo, Senoh,
Asics, Mikasa, Mueller, UCPB Gen and Bizooku with Genius Sports
as technical provider.
Meanwhile, Sta. Lucia looks to barge into the win column when it
tackles struggling Smart at 2 p.m. while Cignal and Generika-Ayala
are out to shatter their deadlock in the 4:15 p.m. second match of
this explosive triple-header that has ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon
TV as broadcast partners.
After racing to an impressive 8-0 start, Petron is heavily tipped
to sweep this tourney, similar to what it did three years ago
when the core of Rachel Anne Daquis, Aby Marano and Dindin
Manabat steered the club to 13 consecutive wins en route to its
first All-Filipino crown.
Coach Aaron Velez insisted that they will march to
warzone with no pressure.
But the road to a perfect conference will be very difficult.
Foton, for one, is also having an amazing performance despite the
absence of sisters Jaja Santiago and Manabat and the season-ending
injury suffered by spikers Arianne Layug and Shaya Adorador.
Layug, the former De La Salle University stalwart, crashed
with an anterior cruciate ligament tear while the former
University of the East main gunner in Adorador has severe
sinusitis infection.
Adding motivation to the Tornadoes is their 14-25, 27-25, 14-25,
12-25 setback to the Blaze Spikers last Thursday that sent them to
third spot with a 5-2 win-loss slate entering the second round.
But head coach Aaron Velez insisted that they will march to
warzone with no pressure.
“We know how strong Petron is. We will try to our best to beat
them, but we will go there and have some fun. No pressure and
no expectations whatsoever,” said Velez, adding that the troika
of Mika Reyes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Frances Molina will be
tough to handle at the attack zone.
“We know that we lost the Santiago sisters and now Arianne
and Shaya. We’re depleted. I told the team to just enjoy the game
and play with no pressure.”
Petron coach Shaq de los Santos admitted that booking eight
straight wins puts pressure on their shoulders.
By Donnawel Maturingan
San Sebastian College-Recoletos
avoided disaster by dumping Lyceum of
the Philippines University, 25-12, 25-21,
17-25, 22-25, 15-9, yesterday in the 94th
National Collegiate Athletic Association
women’s volleyball tournament at the
FilOil Flying V Centre.
Nikka Dalisay led the Lady Stags as
she scored 21 points with 18 spikes, one
block and two service aces, while Shannai
Requierme added 19 markers from 15 spikes
and four aces.
The Recto-based squad was in command
early but the Lady Pirates mounted a strong
push in the last parts of the third set and
threatened when they also bagged the
lessons that we learned that are going to be important in
game time.”
Guiao’s team will clash against Kazakhstan on 30
November and Iran on 3 December at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“We have about nine or 10 names as of last night so three
slots are still up for grabs,” he said. “But still, I cannot
reveal the exact players at this point.”
Guiao will announce his final roster on Wednesday.
His choices are from the remaining 19-man
pool headlined by June Mar Fajardo, Christian
Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar, Beau Belga,
JP Erram, Greg Slaughter, Kai Sotto,
Troy Rosario, Gabe Norwood and
Arwind Santos.
Also in the mix are
guards Jayson Castro, Alex
Cabagnot, Stanley Pringle,
LA Tenorio, Paul Lee,
Scottie Thompson, Marcio
Lassiter, Matthew Wright
and Ricci Rivero.
Castro and Rosario,
however, will still
serve their three-game
suspension until the
Kazakhstan game, making
them available only for the
Iran match.
Sporting a 5-3 record
at third place in Group F,
Team Pilipinas needs to
take care of its upcoming
home games to stay on
track of clinching a seat
to the World Cup in China
next year.
“These home games
are crucial for us. We have
to win these next two
games to remain at third
place. That’s the goal for us
to have a higher World Cup
chance,” he concluded.
SSC-R bounces Lyceum six
The Recto-based squad was in
command early but the Lady
Pirates mounted a strong push
in the last parts of the third set
and threatened when they also
bagged the fourth set
Bullpups clobber Junior Lady Spikers
The Bullpups ended up at 13-1
and will hold the twice-to-beat
advantage against the 9-5 Baby
Falcons in the Final Four
National University ended a two-game slide
as girls champions as it overpowered University
of the East, 25-18, 25-18, 25-13, Sunday in
the UAAP Season 81 high school volleyball
tournament at the FEU-Diliman Gym.
Faith Nisperos had six service aces to finish
with 11 points while reigning MVP Mhicaela
Belen added nine hits and five digs to help the
Bullpups finish the eliminations as the No. 1
team with a 10-2 card.
CROATIA’S team captain
Zeljko Krajan (left) and
teammates lift up the cup
after winning Davis Cup
final over France. AP
Angel Canino had 16 hits while Alleiah
Malaluan fired two service aces to also finish
with 16 points to go with eight digs as De La
Salle-Zobel also ended up with 10 wins and
two losses following a 25-22, 25-15, 23-25, 25-16
victory over Far Eastern University-Diliman.
But the Junior Lady Spikers will settle for
the No. 2 spot due to less match points.
Renee Lou Penafiel had three service aces
for a 17-point outing while Imee Hernandez
added 16 points and seven digs as University
of Santo Tomas bested Adamson University,
25-23, 25-22, 25-18.
The Junior Tigresses clinched the No. 3
ranking in the Final Four with an 8-4 slate,
while the Baby Falcons wound up fourth
at 7-5.
SUBDUED yet ecstatic, University of the East athletes celebrate their seventh
straight championship in the men’s division of UAAP fencing.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
In the semifinals, NU and De La Salle-Zobel
will hold twice-to-beat incentives against
Adamson University and UST, respectively.
In the boys’ division, FEU-Diliman foiled
NU’s bid to jump straight to the Finals with a
21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-21 win.
Titleholder UST eliminated UE, 19-25, 25-18,
25-16, 25-7, allowing Adamson University, which
turned back De La Salle-Zobel, 25-19, 25-17, 21-25,
25-15, to clinch the last Final Four berth.
The Bullpups ended up at 13-1 and will
hold the twice-to-beat advantage against the
9-5 Baby Falcons in the Final Four. The Tiger
Cubs and the Baby Tamaraws play in the other
pairing, although both teams will go up in the
playoff for the remaining semis incentive as
they ended up tied at 10-4.
fourth set.
But the effort was just not enough as
the Lady Stags showed composure in the
deciding set.
Rocelyn Hongria bannered Lyceum as
she contributed 19 markers built on 17
spikes while Alexandra Rafael chipped in
a total of 11 points with 10 spikes.
Earlier, the Golden Stags trounced
Pirates in the men’s division, 25-18, 25-19,
25-14, 25-17.
Nathalian Bunsuan listed 16 points,
while Timothy Eusebio and Kince Sanchez
added 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
UE, Ateneo
fencing champs
For the second straight season, Tranquilan was
named the MVP
University of the East retained the men’s championship while
teenage sensation Maxine Esteban powered Ateneo in winning its
first women’s crown in 12 years as the UAAP Season 81 fencing
tournament came to a close Sunday at the Victoria Sports Tower
in Quezon City.
The foil team of CJ Concepcion, JC Concepcion, Sammuel
Tranquilan and Xavier Arabaca won the gold medal on the final
day of the competition that iced the Red Warriors’ claim of the
crown for a seventh straight year.
The Recto-based fencers have already annexed the crown
Saturday as the saber team of CJ Concepcion, JC Concepcion,
Tranquilan and Jinro Villanueva emerged triumphant.
UE, which also captured three silver medals, also clinched a
league-best 13th title overall.
Warriors earlier swept the individual events, as CJ Concepcion
nabbed the saber gold while Tranquilan topped the epee and foil events.
Green Fencer Darryl Lumahan was named the top rookie.
For the second straight season, Tranquilan was named the
MVP.
Esteban’s gold medal triumphs in the individual foil and saber
events, as well as the Lady Eagles’ victory in the team foil brought
the Katipunan-based fencers on top of the women’s division.
Esteban captured the Rookie-MVP award as Ateneo bagged
its second title overall and the first since 2006 behind sisters
Faye and Veeg Garcia. It also ended UE’s amazing 11-year run
in the throne.
University of Santo Tomas’ lady fencers finished second
place with two golds courtesy of Marielle Peralta in the
individual epee, and the team foil of Peralta, Andrea Bernal,
Pauline Bernarte and Mira Dorimon. The Tigresses also won
a silver and two bronzes.
The Lady Warriors finally won a gold in the fourth day, as
Carla Arreza, Nicole Cortey, Joy Javinar and Marry Jae Lonzaga
topped the team saber category. UE also went home with three
silvers and three bronzes to settle for third.
De La Salle’s gold medal quest in men’s team epee Saturday
was enough to claim second place to go with a silver and three
bronzes, while Ateneo’s one-silver, five-bronze haul sealed third
spot.
Green Fencer Darryl Lumahan was named the top rookie.
In the juniors division, UE achieved another golden double
with Samantha Catantan and Prince John Francis Felipe claiming
the season MVP awards in the girls and boys division once more.
The Junior Warriors achieved an eight-peat in the girls’ division,
while the boys streaked to their ninth straight championship.
UST’s Patricia Daradar was the girls Rookie of the Year winner.