Bulldogs score UAAP volley 3-peat

Manila Chooks! eyes podium finish for PH

ARMED and ready.

Toughened up by its stints in the two overseas tournaments, the Manila Chooks! 3x3 squad is determined more than ever to make a podium finish in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters set on May 20 to 21 at the Glorietta Activity Center.

Chooks-to-Go President Ronald Mascariñas is pinning his hopes on the team to deliver the goods for the country.

“We are set to encounter formidable opponents in the upcoming Manila Masters, yet I have full confidence that the new Manila Chooks! squad is more than capable of rising to the challenge,” Mascariñas said.

“The landscape of 3x3 basketball has undergone significant transformations in recent years, and we have been steadfast in our commitment to continually enhance our 3x3 basketball program.”

The rejuvenated Manila Chooks! team, characterized by its youth and agility, has diligently prepared to confront the top foreign teams they will encounter.

“It is crucial for them to bear in mind that they are not just representing themselves but our entire nation. This realization should serve as a profound inspiration, propelling them to deliver their utmost performance on the court,” added the amiable godfather of Philippine 3x3.

Head trainer Chico Lanete is convinced the Philippine contingent in the FIBA level 10 tournament— the top competition on the 3x3 pro circuit—can win it all and gain more points for the country’s bid to qualify for the Paris Olympics next year.

“Almost 100 percent ang preparation namin. Napakalaking tulong iyong pagpunta namin sa Amsterdam and Mongolia kasi doon namin nakita kung ano pa iyong kulang namin at kailangan pang i-improve,” Lanete said yesterday during the tilt’s press launch at the Chooks! dine-in restaurant at the Mall of Asia in Pasay. “Hopefully, next week 100 percent ready.”

Lanete said his quartet’s runand-guns style of play will come in handy for the Manila Masters that will draw fancied teams UB Huishan of Serbia, Latvia’s Riga, Amsterdam HiPRO of the Netherlands, and Mongolia’s Sansar MMC Energy.

NATIONAL University clinched its third consecutive championship by defeating the University of Santo Tomas, 25-20, 25-21, 2520, to complete a 16-game sweep of the UAAP Season

85 men’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Bulldogs won the finals series 2-0, crushing the Golden Spikers’ hopes of extending the title showdown.

This is the first season sweep and ‘three-peat’ in the league since Season 79, when Ateneo de Manila University, led by Marck Espejo, achieved both feats. UST also completed a perfect season by winning all 17 matches in the 2008-09 season.

The victory also gave the Bulldogs their fifth crown overall, making them the fourth-winningest program, and extended their winning streak to 34 games, dating back to their second game in Season 81.

“Pumunta kami dito talagang nakita ko sa players ko na gusto nilang manalo,” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin. “Credit sa mga player ko talagang tinrabaho namin after ng Game 1 namin alam namin ‘yung lapses namin buti na lang itong Game 2 lumabas talaga ‘yung gusto namin mangyari sa loob ng court and nakuha namin ‘yung game.

“Sobrang happy kami kasi first time na mangyari sa NU na makasweep kami, makuha namin ‘yung three-peat, and yung history namin na 34-game winning streak,” the decoarated head coach continued. With just a three-point lead in the third set, the Bulldogs’ blocking came alive, registering back-to-back blocks. Nico Almendras sealed their four unanswered points with a crosscourt kill, securing a commanding 21-14 lead en route to the 25-20 clincher.

Almendras and Ken Malinis contributed two consecutive points for NU in the second set, a crosscourt hit and a spike off an over-received ball, securing a commanding 2-0 lead.

Bryan Buddin followed up his Game 1 performance with 20 points and 10 excellent receptions, while Almendras added 14 points.

This season’s Best Setter, Joshua Retamar, was named Finals MVP after delivering 25 excellent sets and five points in the first game, followed by 17 sets and two blocks in the final game.

Rookie MVP Josh Ybañez led the way for the Golden Spikers with 13 points but struggled with his attacks, going 12-of-32.

Gboy de Vega contributed 10 points, while Jay Rack Dela Noche was limited to just six points.

NU had to dig deep in Game 1 after squandering a two-set lead, winning 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 29-31, 15-11 last Wednesday.

“Para sa akin tama lang ang pagpalit ko ng sport kasi masaya ako sa naabot ko. (I made the right choice and I am happy of my accomplishments),” said Garcia, who also had a silver in the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games and bronze in the 2018 PH edition.

The chase for that elusive gold continues late Sunday as a member of the epee team, which is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee. He had to shift to fencing because arnis wasn’t part of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines calendar.

Garcia, who began practicing the Filipino martial arts in Grade 5, had his biggest accomplishment as an “arnisador” when he bagged the gold in the 2013 Dumaguete Palarong Pambansa secondary boys’ (51-55) featherweight division.

It was, however, as a fencer that he became an athletic scholar of the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Bachelor of Physical Education Sports, Wellness and Management, before becoming a national pool/team member for nearly a decade now.

“Next target ko sana makalaro sa (19th) Asian Games (2023) sa Hangzhou, China (September 23 to October 8). (I want to play in the Asian Games),” said the full-time national athlete.