MANILA, Philippines – National University Lady Bulldog Bella Belen and University of Santo Tomas’ Golden Spiker Josh Ybanez are now two-time UAAP volleyball tournament Most Valuable Players.
Belen, who led the Bulldogs to their third straight finals, was named UAAP Season 86 MVP before Game 2 of the UAAP men’s volleyball championship, after garnering 88.2 statistical points.
She finished the elimination round with 205 points off of 179 attacks, 15 blocks and 11 service aces .
Aside from her scoring prowess, the Lady Bulldog also showed her all-around game throughout the season.
The 21-year-old is the sixth most efficient spiker at 36.53%, eighth best server at 0.22 per set, the sixth best digger at 2.3 per set, and second best receiver with a 48.3% efficiency rate.
With Belen at the forefront, the Lady Bulldogs are one win away from the championship as they leads the best-of-three championship series against the Golden Tigresses, 1-0.
UST’s super rookie Angeline Poyos was named Rookie of the Year with 76.964 SPs. She is the runner-up in the MVP race.
The freshman is second in the league in scoring with 290 total points off of 249 attacks, 23 aces and 18 blocks.
Belen and Poyos are the first and second Best Outside Spikers, respectively.
Meanwhile, NU’s Alyssa Solomon is the Best Opposite Spiker once again. She finished the season with 235 positional points, while UST’s Bernadett Pepito is also the season’s Best Libero with 243 positional points.
Golden Tigress Cassie Carballo is the Best Sette r with 247 positional points.
La Sal le’s Thea Gagate and UP’s Nina Ytang are the season’s Best Middle Blockers.
Over at the m en’s side, Ybanez is the MVP for the second straight season.
Ybanez, who also towed UST to the finals for the second straight season, notched 89.64 statistical points as the league’s top scorer and best receiver.
With this, Ybanez was named the Best Outside Spiker. The second best outside spiker is NU’s Nico Almendras.
Owa Retamar is also the UAAP’s Best Setter with 269 positional points.
Far Eastern University’s Martin Bugaoan and La Salle’s Nath del Pilar are the Best Middle blockers.
Bugaoan’s teammate, Dryx Saavedra, is the Best Opposite Spiker. La Salle’s Nard Guerrero is the Best Libero, and NU’s Jade Disquitado is the Rookie of the Year.
MANILA, Philippines – Ryuji Suzuki and Maurysse Abalos shone brightly in the Junior Philippine Golf Tour Luzon Series, pulling off thrilling victories in the 8-10 age category with 79 and 95, respectively, at the Splendido Taal Golf Club Wednesday.
Suzuki blew a six-shot lead but maintained his composure in the stretch of a pressure-packed frontside finish in another sweltering day here. He capitalized on Jose Luis Espinosa’s costly bogey on No. 7 to pound out a one-stroke victory in the boys’ division despite a seven-over card for a 36-hole total of 157.
Espinosa made a strong comeback, narrowing the gap to four strokes with a backside start of 38 and then birdied No. 2. He forced a tie at 13-over with four holes left as Suzuki struggled with three bogeys in a four-hole stretch from the second hole.
Suzuki, however, regained the lead as Espinosa bogeyed No. 7 for the second straight day. Matching Espinosa’s pars on the last two holes, Suzuki secured the victory and, with Abalos, earned the honor of being the first champions of the JPGT series.
“It’s feels nice and it’s an honor to win in this tournament,” said the 10-year-old Suzuki.
Espinosa, who bounced back from an opening 84 with a 74, ended in second place with a 158, while Kevin Tecson finished third with a 196 after a 96.
Ranking points are awarded in each leg of the series, with the top four players in the boys’ and girls’ divisions after the seven-leg Luzon swing qualifying for the JPGT Match Play Championship at The Country Club in October.
The tournament, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., aims to boost the sport and discover new talents through its country-wide circuit, including three legs in the Visayas and four in Mindanao.
In girls’ division of the youngest age category, Abalos overcame a significant challenge. Despite a shaky backside 51, she pounced on Casedy Chime Cuenca’s consecutive triple bogeys from No. 1, cruising to a four-stroke victory with a 95 and a 184.
“I feel so great. It’s my first accomplishment for the year,” said the 9-year-old Abalos, a Saint Pedro Poveda student who has already claimed six championships in her young career.
Cuenca finished with a 90 for a 188, while Teresa Tambunting placed third with a 194 after a 101.
In the 11-14 age division, set over 54 holes, Race Manhit continued to defy the odds, maintaining his lead in the boys’ class despite a 90 for a 171, but just a stroke ahead of Inigo Gallardo, who pressed his bid with a second straight 86 for a 172.
“The pin placements were challenging and the greens were much faster,” said Manhit, 11, who headed straight to the range to polish his driving. “I’m determined to secure the win.”
Aenzo Sulaik remained in contention with a 175 despite a 91.
In the girls’ category, Precious Zaragosa stayed at the forefront with an 81 for a 155 as she seized a two-shot lead over Lisa Sarines, who carded a 78 for a 157, as Mona Sarines, the previous co-leader, dropped to third after an 84, following an earlier 74, for a 158.
“My irons were a bit off and I couldn’t make any regulation,” said Zaragosa. “But I hope to play better tomorrow (Thursday).”
In the premier 72-hole, 15-18 category, Zachary Villaroman stormed ahead, posting a 77 for a 155, establishing a six-shot lead as first round leader Charles Serdenia faced early setbacks, winding up with an 86 to slip to second at 161.
Alexander Crisostomo carded an 81 for third at 164.
Jiwon Lee also claimed a commanding lead in the girls’ centerpiece division, carding a 74 for a 154, four strokes ahead of first round leader Lia Duque, who struggled with an 82 for a 158. Rafa Anciano remained at distant third spot at 171 after an 86.