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Category: Volleyball

  • Jia De Guzman, Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon among key Alas Pilipinas stars to skip AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup 

    Jia De Guzman, Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon among key Alas Pilipinas stars to skip AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup 

    Just weeks before the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup in Candon City, Alas Pilipinas is suddenly facing a different kind of battle — not against another country, but against time and player availability.

     

    What was initially expected to be a continuation of the national team program following the Southeast Asian Games has instead turned into a major rebuilding process after several key members of the previous Alas core declined invitations to return.

     

    Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Anthony Liao confirmed that many of the players from the SEA Games squad, including longtime team captain Jia De Guzman, have already informed the federation that they will not be joining the upcoming AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup set for June 6 to 14 in Candon City.

     

    “The old Alas. We invited them, maybe they’re not available, or they’re not willing to play. They said no, eh. They said they are not interested in playing anymore, so wala na,” said Liao.

     

    “Yung naglaro ng SEA Games, we invited all of them, they said they will not play anymore,” he added.

     

    The withdrawals have left the national team program scrambling for answers less than a month before hosting one of the biggest women’s volleyball tournaments in the region.

     

    Aside from De Guzman, Liao revealed that Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Maddie Madayag have also opted to skip national team duties this time around.

     

    “Jia already replied to Ricky Palou. She’s not playing. Same with Maddie, kasi ang kumo-contact si Taj eh, ‘yung team manager. Ini-inform lang niya ako kung sinong umoo, sinong humindi. Even Belen, nag-no. Solomon daw next year na lang,” he said.

     

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    The uncertainty does not end there.

     

    Other members of the SEA Games squad — including Eya Laure, Vanie Gandler, Mars Alba, and Alleiah Malaluan — have yet to fully commit as the federation continues to piece together a workable pool.

     

    At the same time, some players willing to join are now dealing with physical setbacks.

     

    Rising star Shaina Nitura reportedly wanted to suit up for Alas Pilipinas but was forced to beg off because of an undisclosed injury, while Justine Jazareno has expressed interest in joining though no formal commitment has been finalized.

     

    “Nitura naman, injured pero gustong maglaro. ‘Yung Akari, Alba, Sharma, Jazareno, walang reply. Pero I was able to talk to Jazareno sa Candon nung All-Star, she’s willing to play,” Liao shared.

    With the original core slowly thinning out, the federation is now shifting its attention toward younger and available reinforcements.

     

    Liao disclosed that discussions are ongoing with De La Salle University regarding the possible participation of reigning UAAP champions Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, and Amie Provido.

     

    “Definitely, we will be adding. Kasi, right now we only have 11 to 12 players, eh. So the plan really is to have a pool of 20 to 25 players. We’ll talk with the coaches and Coach Tai,” Liao said.

    The timing could hardly be more challenging for the national team.

     

    Recently appointed Alas Pilipinas head coach Tai Bundit is also expected to miss the next two to three months after figuring in a car accident in Thailand, further complicating preparations for the host nation.

     

    Instead of building continuity from the SEA Games campaign, Alas Pilipinas now finds itself rushing to rebuild nearly from scratch — hoping to gather enough healthy and committed players before the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup finally arrives.

     

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  • Angel Canino and La Salle championship core to run it back for Season 89 

    Angel Canino and La Salle championship core to run it back for Season 89 

    Just days after completing one of the most dominant championship runs in recent UAAP history, De La Salle University made it clear that its reign may only be getting started.

     

    The Lady Spikers’ championship core led by Angel Canino has officially decided to return for one final season, keeping intact the same group that steamrolled through UAAP Season 88 without losing a single match.

     

    During a courtesy call with La Salle president Bro. Bernie Oca, FSC at Henry Sy Sr. Hall on Tuesday, team captain Shevana Laput confirmed that “Batch 122” would stay together for Season 89.

     

    “As for we wish to continue this legacy, we want to stay for one more year,” said Laput during the gathering attended by campus journalists.

     

    Joining Laput in the announcement were fellow cornerstone players Canino, Amie Provido, and Lyka De Leon — effectively preserving the heart of the squad that reclaimed the UAAP women’s volleyball crown.

     

    Their return instantly transforms La Salle into the early favorite to repeat next season.

     

    More importantly, it gives “Batch 122” one last opportunity to further strengthen what is already shaping up to be one of the defining eras in Lady Spikers history.

     

    The group first captured a championship as rookies in Season 85 before completing a redemption-driven return to the top this year, sweeping the eliminations and dismantling defending champion National University in back-to-back straight-set victories in the Finals.

     

     

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    For many observers, signs of the players’ return were already quietly unfolding during La Salle’s traditional “Archer’s Stance” celebration after winning the championship at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

     

    Normally reserved for departing seniors, the symbolic center spot remained empty — a subtle hint that no farewell was coming just yet.

     

    Even then, the players stayed careful about publicly confirming their plans.

     

    Three days later, the mystery was officially gone.

     

    The returning core also brings back nearly every major individual award won by La Salle this season.

     

    Laput, who famously entered collegiate volleyball without prior competitive experience, capped her remarkable rise by winning Finals MVP honors after averaging 15.5 points in the title series, highlighted by a 20-point performance in the clincher.

     

    Canino continued her dominance on the wing by earning her third Best Outside Spiker award, while Provido secured a second straight Best Middle Blocker recognition.

     

    Laput likewise captured her second consecutive Best Opposite Spiker plum, while De Leon previously established herself as one of the league’s top floor defenders after winning Best Libero honors in Season 87.

     

    Now fully intact and armed with another year of chemistry, experience, and championship confidence, La Salle’s title-winning machine is preparing for one more run — and perhaps an even bigger legacy.

     

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  • PVL moves quickly to prevent player stacking after Cignal exit

    PVL moves quickly to prevent player stacking after Cignal exit

    The Premier Volleyball League is wasting little time protecting competitive balance following Cignal HD Spikers’ leave of absence.

     

    Amid growing movement surrounding the futures of several former Cignal players, the league has circulated an internal memorandum placing immediate limits on how teams can rebuild using talent from the disbanded squad.

     

    Under the directive sent to the league’s remaining nine member teams, clubs are only allowed to acquire a maximum of two players from the former Cignal roster.

     

    The memorandum also requires teams to formally notify the league in writing before finalizing agreements or publicly announcing any signing involving former Super Spikers players.

     

    One provision in the memo further emphasized that the league reserves the right to determine which players may transfer to specific teams in an effort to avoid disrupting the PVL’s competitive landscape.

     

    League officials explained that the restrictions were implemented to “ensure fairness and prevent disproportionate roster consolidation.”

     

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    The move comes as interest around Cignal’s players rapidly intensified following the franchise’s leave of absence, with multiple teams reportedly exploring ways to strengthen their lineups ahead of the next conference.

     

    Sources indicated that at least one team had already secured verbal commitments from three former Cignal players before the memorandum was issued, prompting concerns over a possible concentration of talent within a single roster.

     

    The league’s intervention now effectively slows down what had become an aggressive recruitment race across the PVL.

     

    The memo also carried a warning for teams that fail to comply with the directive, stating that sanctions may include penalties such as the forfeiture of rookie draft picks.

     

    With one of the league’s longtime contenders suddenly out of the picture, the PVL now finds itself managing not only player movement, but also the delicate balance of keeping the competition from tilting too heavily toward a select few teams.

     

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  • Bella Belen admits NU’s title loss made her wish for one more year

    Bella Belen admits NU’s title loss made her wish for one more year

    Bella Belen thought she had already moved on from college volleyball.

     

    She had accepted the decision to leave NU Lady Bulldogs early, begin her professional career, and trust that the powerhouse program she helped build would continue thriving without her.

     

    But championships — especially lost ones — have a way of reopening old thoughts.

     

    Watching National University fall short in its bid for a third straight UAAP title against the De La Salle Lady Spikers forced Belen to confront a question she admitted she had long tried to silence.

    “Siyempre natalo kami, so bigla akong napaisip na what if nag-one more year ako,” Belen revealed during a TikTok live session Sunday night.

     

    The three-time MVP had chosen to forgo her final playing year in college to turn professional, a move many viewed as inevitable given her decorated résumé and rising stock in Philippine volleyball.

     

    Even after leaving Jhocson, however, Belen never completely detached herself from the team.

    Whenever her schedule with Capital1 Solar Spikers allowed, she attended practices, watched games, and remained closely connected to the younger players trying to carry NU’s winning tradition forward.

     

    But seeing the Lady Bulldogs lose the championship they held for two years appeared to hit differently.

     

    For perhaps the first time since leaving, Belen openly acknowledged that the collegiate experience may have ended too quickly.

     

    During the same livestream with fellow NU standout Buds Buddin, she even advised him not to rush his own exit from college volleyball.

     

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    “Gamitin mo (last playing year mo), sayang. ‘Yan ang pagkakamaling ginawa ko. Sana nag-one more year na lang ako,” she admitted.

     

    “Minsan lang ang UAAP. Once na mag-pro ka, hindi ka na makakabalik.”

     

    When Buddin later asked whether she believed NU was truly prepared to move on without her and fellow star Alyssa Solomon, Belen answered with striking honesty.

     

    “Hindi, hindi talaga,” she said.

     

    Yet despite the doubts, Belen still believed the program would eventually learn to stand on its own.

     

    “May tiwala ako sa kanila. Ready sila, pero iba pa rin kapag may gabay ng seniors and all. It’s about trust,” she added.

     

    To NU’s credit, the Lady Bulldogs still fought their way back to the finals despite losing cornerstone players from their championship core.

     

    Only this time, the ending belonged to La Salle and Angel Canino.

    Now that Season 88 is over, the conversations surrounding Belen’s early departure have naturally resurfaced.

     

    What if she stayed one more year? What if the Lady Bulldogs still had their longtime leader during the finals? What if the three-peat chase had one more experienced voice steering it?

     

    For most of the season, those questions belonged only to fans.

     

    After NU’s finals loss, even Belen herself finally admitted she had started wondering too.

     

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  • Alas Men setter Owa Retamar returns to Visakha VC aiming for unfinished business in Cambodia 

    Alas Men setter Owa Retamar returns to Visakha VC aiming for unfinished business in Cambodia 

    For Owa Retamar, returning to Cambodia is not simply about playing overseas again.

    It is about picking up where he left off.

     

    After helping Visakha VC secure a podium finish earlier this year, the Alas Pilipinas playmaker is set to reunite with the club for the upcoming Techo Volleyball Cambodia League 2026 season running from May to July.

     

    Retamar confirmed the development through social media, marking the start of another overseas chapter for one of Philippine volleyball’s top setters.

     

    “Masaya ako na makabalik dito kasi maganda ang naging experience ko with the team last time. We were able to finish third, so goal namin na mas mataas pa sana ang marating,” he said.

     

    His first stint with Visakha ended with a third-place finish in the Sar Kheng Cup, but the club now enters the new league season with bigger expectations after settling for runner-up finishes over the past two years.

     

    This time, Retamar is expected to take on an even bigger role as Visakha tries to finally get over the hump.

     

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    The former NU Bulldogs star also understands the level of competition awaiting them in Cambodia’s professional scene, where multiple imports are allowed per team.

     

    “Sa league na ito, hindi lang limited sa isa ang allowed import, kaya expected na mas magiging matindi ang bawat game. Kailangan lang mag-adjust agad sa chemistry at preparation. Trabaho agad ako bukas,” said Retamar.

     

    Retamar brings with him valuable international experience gained from years of representing Alas Pilipinas on bigger stages.

     

    He was part of the Philippine squad that competed in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, where the country finished 19th overall, and also helped the national team capture a silver medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games before adding a bronze medal in the latest edition.

     

    Back home, Retamar has long established himself as one of the country’s premier setters, collecting multiple Best Setter awards in both the UAAP and Spikers’ Turf.

     

    Now, with another opportunity overseas in front of him, Retamar heads back to Cambodia carrying both familiarity and unfinished business.

     

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  • Several collegiate standouts set for PVL move, UAAP champion DLSU Lady Spikers seniors yet to decide on turning pro

    Several collegiate standouts set for PVL move, UAAP champion DLSU Lady Spikers seniors yet to decide on turning pro

    As the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball comes to an end, attention has quickly shifted from championship celebrations to career-defining decisions.


    For some players, the next chapter is already clear — the professional stage awaits. For others, one more season in the collegiate spotlight remains possible. And then there is the unique case of the newly crowned champions from De La Salle University Lady Spikers, whose future continues to fuel intrigue after ending the season with perfection.

     

    Fresh off a dominant 16-0 campaign that culminated in reclaiming the UAAP crown, the Lady Spikers left fans speculating after their now-viral post-game “archer stance” celebration. 

     

    Traditionally, graduating players stand at the center of the formation, but this time, no one occupied the middle spot. The gesture immediately sparked conversations that La Salle’s core could return intact for Season 89.

     

    Notably, Angel Canino, Amie Provido, Lyka de Leon, and Shevana Laput all remain eligible for another year, leaving the possibility of a title-defense campaign very much alive.

     

    After La Salle completed its championship conquest against National University Lady Bulldogs in Game 2 of the Finals, Canino revealed that the decision behind the formation came from head coach Ramil de Jesus, adding even more mystery to the plans of the team’s senior stars.

     

    While La Salle’s future remains open-ended, several of the league’s other stars are already preparing to close their collegiate chapters.

     

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    For National University, the season marked the emotional farewell of veteran setter Lams Lamina, who wrapped up her five-year UAAP journey after the Lady Bulldogs settled for runner-up honors against La Salle. Despite falling short in the Finals, Lamina leaves behind a decorated legacy as one of NU’s steady leaders during its recent rise back into contention.

     

    Meanwhile, NU captain Vange Alinsug now finds herself at a major crossroads. The rising star admitted that her next move remains undecided as she weighs two different paths — returning to lead the Lady Bulldogs’ redemption bid in Season 89 or following Lamina into the professional ranks.

     

    The second runner up, University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, is already beginning to take shape.

     

    The Tigresses are set to lose longtime captain and defensive anchor Detdet Pepito after completing her five playing years with the program. 

     

    At the same time, Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula are preparing to make the jump to the professional level, with both expected to continue their careers in the Premier Volleyball League.

     

    Still, UST retains a key piece for next season as Regine Jurado committed to stay for her fifth year, giving the Tigresses an experienced presence as they attempt another Final Four push.

     

    Moreover, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons standout Niña Ytang ended her collegiate run by cementing her reputation as one of the league’s premier middle blockers. 

     

    Ytang captured her fourth UAAP Best Middle Blocker award before turning her focus toward the professional ranks and life beyond collegiate volleyball.

     

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  • Shaina Nitura bags four individual awards in her standout UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball campaign

    Shaina Nitura bags four individual awards in her standout UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball campaign

    In a UAAP Season 88 campaign defined by breakthrough performances and rising stars, one name stood above the rest as both a symbol of consistency and a catalyst for change.


    In just her second year, Shaina Nitura completed a rapid rise from Rookie of the Year to Most Valuable Player, officially earning the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball MVP award while delivering a historic first for Adamson University in the women’s division. 

     

    It marked the first time the program produced a women’s MVP, capping off a season that reshaped expectations for the Lady Falcons.

     

    Nitura’s dominance was reflected not just in accolades, but in cold statistical control across multiple categories. She finished with 98.51 statistical points and a league-best 284 total points, while also ranking among the league’s elite in nearly every major skill area—third in spiking efficiency at 38.15%, seventh in service with 0.26 aces per set, fourth in reception at 44.48%, and eighth in digging with 2.11 digs per set.

     

    Her all-around impact also earned her a share of the Best Outside Spiker award alongside Angel Canino of De La Salle University, with Nitura and Canino finishing with 303 and 272 ranking points respectively.

     

    Beyond the major honors, Nitura also collected two minor season awards, including the Hyundai Stargazer Player of the Season and Sunsilk Player of the Season, bringing her total cash incentives to P100,000. 

     

    But for her, the achievement carried meaning beyond individual recognition.

     

    “Very honored po ako na ibalik yung binigay sa aking tiwala, positivity, yung tulong na binigay ng Adamson sa amin, sa akin, sa buong team. Binigyan kami ng (Adamson) hindi lang basta sa pera, sa dorm, sa pag-aaral, kung hindi puso sa paglalaro at puso para ipanalo yung Adamson, yung Adamson community at ipaglaban sila,” she said.

     

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    More than personal success, Nitura’s season became the driving force behind Adamson’s return to relevance, steering the program to its first Final Four appearance since UAAP Season 84. 

     

    Her leadership on the court turned the Lady Falcons from outsiders into legitimate contenders once again. Even in celebration, she pointed toward what comes next—expressing belief that the breakthrough is only the beginning and that both she and Adamson can push further in the seasons ahead.

     

    The season also carried a family storyline of success, as her sister Judiel Nitura made her own mark by winning Best Opposite Spiker and Finals MVP honors for the NCAA Season 101 champion Letran Lady Knights.

     

    Furthermore, in the league the other standout performers were also recognized in a talent-heavy season. 

     

    Shevana Laput secured Finals MVP and Best Opposite Spiker honors, while La Salle teammate Amie Provido earned Best Middle Blocker recognition. 

     

    National University’s National University (Philippines) Lady Bulldogs also saw key awardees in Shaira Jardio (Best Libero) and Sam Cantada (Rookie of the Year), while Adamson’s Fhei Sagaysay was named Best Setter and UP’s Niña Ytang completed the Best Middle Blocker selections.

     

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  • Sisi Rondina, Pauline Gaston star in beach volleyball showcase as Sipalay embraces BVR tour 

    Sisi Rondina, Pauline Gaston star in beach volleyball showcase as Sipalay embraces BVR tour 

    What unfolded in Sipalay over the weekend was more than just another stop in the Beach Volleyball Republic tour.

     

    It became a celebration of how far beach volleyball has grown in the Philippines.

     

    With fans crowding the shores of Poblacion Beach, national team stars and rising pairs delivered high-level matches that turned the BVR On Tour Sipalay Open into one of the liveliest events of the season.

     

    At the center of it all was the Alas Pilipinas tandem of Sisi Rondina and Dij Rodriguez, who  powered through a grueling women’s division en route to a perfect five-match sweep.

     

    The pair survived a tough challenge from Kat Epa and Kizil Quijote in the finals, recovering from a first-set loss to pull off a 19-21, 21-13, 15-6 victory.

     

    Before that, Rondina and Rodriguez also had to outlast fellow Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Sunny Villapando and Gen Eslapor in a hard-fought semifinal showdown.

     

    For Rondina, the atmosphere in Sipalay stood out just as much as the title itself.

     

    “Unti-unting nakikilala talaga ang beach volleyball sa Pilipinas. We are hoping na maraming liga na ganito. Hindi lang sa Sipalay, pati sa buong Pipinas,” said Rondina, who collected her sixth BVR On Tour title.

     

    Rodriguez, meanwhile, secured her fourth tour championship.

     

    The men’s division also produced a redemption story as Ranran Abdilla and Ronniel Rosales bounced back from an earlier elimination-round defeat to overcome Edwin Tolentino and Lerry Francisco in the finals, 21-23, 21-18, 15-7.

     

    The victory gave Abdilla and Rosales their second BVR title together this year after also ruling the Nuvali Open in March.

     

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    Beyond the championship matches, the tournament also highlighted returning and emerging partnerships.

     

    The Capital1 Solar Spikers duo of Pauline Gaston and Roma Mae Doromal impressed despite an early exit, earning praise after pushing veteran pair Bea Tan and Fille Cayetano in a competitive straight-set battle.

     

    “Actually we are very grateful sa experience na maglaro kami together. Nakakasabay kami sa level ng competition. Binigyan din namin ng magandang fight ang kalaban,” Doromal said.

     

    “Ang dami-dami naming natutunan and we are so excited for more BVR appearances,” she added.

     

    Gaston also credited Doromal’s leadership throughout their campaign.

     

    “Nakakapag-in game adjustment kami, which is I’m so proud naman. In game kami magde-decide na magba-block ako Roms (Doromal), anong gagawin naming defensive patterns. Yung mga strategies namin, nailabas which is I’m proud kasi. Siya (Doromal) ang nagiging coach ko, siya yung nagle-lead sa akin. I’m happy and that’s why she’s the Capital1 team captain, I let her lead and I trust her,” Gaston said.

     

    Even in defeat, Doromal appreciated the chance to share the sand with players they once only looked up to.

     

    “It’s a privilege talaga to play against them kasi mga idols po namin, nilu-look up po namin. I’m happy na nasa same court kami,” she said.

     

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  • Alyssa Valdez sees bright future in Philippine volleyball following PVL All-Star Showcase 

    Alyssa Valdez sees bright future in Philippine volleyball following PVL All-Star Showcase 

    For Alyssa Valdez, the PVL All-Star Game wasn’t just a celebration—it felt like a checkpoint.

     

    Not a lot of what has already been achieved, but of what is now possible.

     

    In a setting designed to entertain, the Creamline Cool Smashers captain found something more meaningful: a clear snapshot of the sport’s direction. Surrounded by a mix of proven veterans and emerging standouts, Valdez saw firsthand how deep the talent pool has become—and how quickly it continues to grow.

     

    “Nakakatuwa kasi ‘yung players are quality talaga. Talagang marami tayong volleyball players and I would say they are quality players,” she said.

     

    “That’s, I think, one thing that we can bank on looking forward in the next few years na meron tayong volleyball community na susuportahan at meron tayong opportunity to have a career in volleyball.”

     

    The All-Star stage brought together players who, in most cases, spend the season competing against each other. But for one night, rivalries gave way to collaboration, offering a different lens through which to view the game.

     

    It was in that shared space where the contrast—and connection—between generations became more visible.

     

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    Young stars like Bella Belen and Jean Asis didn’t just hold their own—they thrived alongside established names such as Myla Pablo and Jia De Guzman. The result was more than a competitive match; it was a glimpse of continuity, where the present and future of Philippine volleyball met on equal footing.

     

    “We’re very happy and sana, magtuloy-tuloy lang. I think it’s because also for sure, ‘yan sila Bella na ‘yung mga magli-lead diyan sa mga younger generations and sa amin din na nagiging inspirasyon namin ‘yung mga kabataan,” Valdez said.

     

    That dynamic—where veterans inspire and are inspired in return—has become one of the defining traits of the league’s current era.

     

    But beyond the talent and the match itself, Valdez pointed to something less tangible yet equally important: the sense of community. The All-Star event, in her eyes, reinforced the idea that volleyball in the Philippines is no longer just growing—it is connecting.

     

    “I’m very, very happy and sana, sana, sana, isa lang ‘yung wish ko talaga, to spread good vibes in the whole community on and off the court,” she said.

     

    In that sense, the All-Star Game wasn’t just about highlights or recognition. It was about direction.

     

    And if Valdez’s perspective holds true, the sport isn’t just moving forward—it’s building something that can last.

     

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  • UST’s Detdet Pepito ends UAAP career as Bella Belen honors her journey beyond school rivalry 

    UST’s Detdet Pepito ends UAAP career as Bella Belen honors her journey beyond school rivalry 

    For Detdet Pepito, the final whistle of UST’s UAAP Season 88 campaign marked more than just a semifinal exit at the hands of the NU Lady Bulldogs—it signaled the closing chapter of an 11-year journey defined by consistency, resilience, and evolution.

     

    Long before she became the defensive anchor and captain of the UST Golden Tigresses, Pepito was already building her legacy in black and gold. From her high school days, she stood out not just for her skill, but for her steadiness—a trait that would eventually define her career.

     

    She was part of UST’s runner-up finishes from Seasons 78 to 80, then helped steer the program to back-to-back bronze medals in Seasons 81 and 82. Along the way, she collected Best Libero honors from Seasons 79 to 82, establishing herself early as one of the most reliable defenders in the league.

     

    Her transition to the seniors division didn’t slow her down. Pepito added more accolades to her name, including Best Libero awards in Seasons 85 and 86. She helped bring UST back to the Finals in Season 86 before closing her collegiate career with consecutive third-place finishes in Seasons 87 and 88.

     

    But numbers and awards only tell part of the story. Across the net stood someone who knew Pepito long before the bright lights of the UAAP—Bella Belen. From childhood teammates to fierce collegiate rivals, their journeys have been intertwined in ways few athletes experience.

     

    As NU ended UST’s run, Belen found herself reflecting not just on the match, but on the person behind the jersey.

     

    “Siyempre, super proud ako kay Detdet kasi ang laki rin ng growth niya as a person and as an athlete,” she said.

     

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    Their shared history gave Belen a front-row seat to Pepito’s transformation—one she described with both humor and admiration.

     

    “Dati, jeje lang siya,” Belen said with a laugh, clearly in jest. “Ngayon, nakikita ko na siya talagang leader sa team niya.”

     

    While their paths eventually diverged—meeting as opponents in high school and later in the UAAP, including NU’s triumph over UST in the Season 86 Finals—the connection remained deeper than competition. 

     

    For Belen, Pepito’s true evolution wasn’t rooted in skill, but in mindset.

    “Kasi yung skills, magaling na talaga siya eh. Pero yung sa mental aspect, doon, mas lalo siyang tumibay,” she shared.

     

    That mental toughness became most evident in Pepito’s final season, where she led UST with composure and determination, fully aware that every game could be her last.

     

    Pepito had long chosen to extend her collegiate stay, delaying a professional career to maximize her time in the UAAP. Now, with that chapter officially closed, attention shifts to what comes next.

    And if Belen had her way, the story wouldn’t end with them on opposite sides.

     

    “Sino ba naman po kasi ang hindi gugustong maging teammate si Detdet? Sobrang galing niya na player, and sobrang gaan niya pakisamahan,” she said.

     

    From childhood teammates to rivals—and perhaps future teammates once more—the story of Pepito and Belen proves that some connections in sports go beyond wins, losses, or even time.

     

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