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Alas Pilipinas girls rip Singapore to open Thailand U18 tilt

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Alas Pilipinas girls. Photo from SMM Volleyball

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas girls demolished Singapore, 25-14, 25-6, 25-12, to kick off its 22nd Princess Cup Southeast Asian Under-18 Women’s Volleyball Championship on a rousing note on Saturday at Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium in Thailand.

University of Santo Tomas high school star Kimberly Rubin led the collective effort of the Philippine U-18 team for its first win in the six-team competition, where the top two teams of the single round-robin will clash in a winner-take-all final on June 13.

Rubin scored most of her points in the second set, where they dominated the Singaporeans by 19 points.

READ: Alas Pilipinas girls set for two U18 tournaments

Kimberly Rubin shone brightly, racking up eight points in the second set alone. 

UST players Lianne Penuliar and Avril Bron were also instrumental for Alas, while Harlyn Serneche of National University-Nazareth School contributed to the squad in their first win.

Ashley Macalinao of Kings’ Montessori School scored five points in the third set before NUNS Akeyla Bartolabac delivered the game-winning ace.

READ: PH national volleyball teams to be called Alas Pilipinas

It was a winning debut for the new Philippine girls’ volleyball team Taka Minowa of Akari, which is also the backer of the young nationals.

Alas battles face Malaysia on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (Manila time) before taking on Thailand, Australia, and Indonesia.

The Alas girls will also compete in the Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship from June 16 to 23 also in Thailand.

PLDT runs it back with Russian import Elena Samoilenko

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FILE–PLDT import Elena Samoilenko. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT brings back Russian import Elena Samoilenko ahead of the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference, which opens in July.

The High Speed Hitters on Friday announced that Samoilenko is playing for their team for the second time after an impressive PVL stint in the last foreign player-laden tournament two years ago.

“We just loved Lena Samoilenko’s quiet intensity so much that we had to bring her back for another tour of duty with the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the upcoming 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference,” wrote PLDT. “Same power, same height, but with more volleyball experience. We’re in! Welcome back, Lena! Let’s do this.”

READ: PVL: Kath Arado, PLDT stay motivated despite early All-Filipino exit

The 6-foot-4 outside hitter soared high in her first PVL stint in 2022, emerging as the top scorer with 213 points in eight games.

Despite the effort of the Russian spiker, PLDT missed the semifinals of the Reinforced Conference with a 3-5 record.

Samoilenko, fresh from a stint with Turan Turkistan club in Kazakhstan, is bolstering a new-look High Speed Hitters under coach Rald Ricafort, the successor of George Pascua and champion coach of Petro Gazz in the last Reinforced Conference.

READ: PVL: PLDT, led by Savi Davison, show promise for next conference

Samoilenko will be teaming up with Filipino-Canadian Savi Davison and newcomers Kianna Dy, who is expected to return to action from injury this conference, Majoy Baron, and Kim Fajardo as well as mainstays Kath Arado and Mika Reyes.

PLDT is raring to end a three-conference semis drought after falling short in the All-Filipino Conference with an 8-3 record in fifth place.

The top four of Reinforced will also qualify in the PVL Invitational Conference in September with two foreign guest teams.

Beermen square PBA Finals with gutsy Bolts after Game 2 thriller

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Composure will be crucial for CJ Perez from this point of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals series that went back to square one following San Miguel Beer’s Game 2 escape act Friday night.

“I have to sustain my composure, especially in the endgame,” Perez told the Inquirer shortly after the Beermen avoided a dreaded 0-2 hole by rallying from four points down with 27 seconds to go for a 95-94 victory over the Meralco Bolts at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Perez’s three-pointer set up that unbelievable comeback as San Miguel took advantage of a split from Chris Banchero from the foul line, with Marcio Lassiter knocking down the go-ahead triple for the eventual scoreline.

San Miguel bounced back from dropping the series opener, 93-86, two nights prior where Perez endured foul trouble and disappointment towards some of the calls.

He was once again in early foul trouble, but wound up with a playoff-high 34 points this time, capped by a triple of his own with 22 seconds left that made the comeback possible.

“As a player, we can’t see everything with regards to the calls. So for us, we have to adjust and avoid complaining too much,” said Perez, who after Game 1 didn’t hide his disappointment towards calls that “shouldn’t be called in the Finals.”

Critical miss

The Finals Most Valuable Player when San Miguel captured the Commissioner’s Cup title last February was also glad to atone for an earlier missed three with Meralco holding on to a 90-89 lead.

That miss led to Banchero’s three-pointer that extended the Bolts’ advantage to 93-89, and it appeared that the Bolts were just one stop away from going two-up on the tournament favorites.

But Perez was glad to make good on his second chance.

“Our coaches really trust me to make shots,” Perez said. “If I miss those, it’s okay. If I make it, good for me.”

Lassiter scored with 13 seconds left following Banchero’s trip to the line, putting him closer to Allan Caidic and career leader Jimmy Alapag on the all-time list.

At this point, that triple could create a shift in the complexion of the championship tussle, with Game 3 set Sunday at the same venue.

Banchero had a chance to put Meralco ahead. He had a good look driving into the lane, but couldn’t convert on a layup that would have put the Bolts back in front and saved them from a gut-wrenching defeat.

Cliff Hodge produced 25 points for the Bolts, who once again drew worthy performances from almost everyone inserted on the floor.

June Mar Fajardo had 17 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks after another difficult battle against rookie Brandon Bates and the Meralco frontline.

Chris Newsome had 14 points for the Bolts, who led by eight points at one point.

Maquilan, Faculiran fight for WBC Asia Continental title

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Maquilan Facularin Blow-by-Blow

Noli James Maquilan (left) and Jason Facularin show their readiness in time for their bantamweight title clash during Manny Pacquiao Presents: Blow-By-Blow on Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome. Photo from MP Promotions/Wendell Alinea

MANILA, Philippines–Rising Filipino bantamweights Noli James Maquilan and Jason Facularin clash for the WBC Asia Continental title in the main event of Blow-by-Blow on Saturday at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

Both fighters are off to a strong start in their pro careers.

Maquilan, representing the Penalosa Boxing Gym of Better Living-Paranaque, sports a 9-1 record with six knockouts.

READ: Blow-by-Blow: Unbeaten Albert Francisco wins PH Youth belt

Facularin, who fights out of the Ring Master Boxing Gym of Davao City, meanwhile, is 8-1 with all of his wins coming inside the distance.

The bout headlines a 13-fight card, which begins at 2 p.m.

Blow-By-Blow, shown on ONE Sports channel every Sunday at 8:30 p.m., was revived by no less than Pacquiao himself in November 2022 as a way of lending a hand to Filipino boxers.

READ: Fast-rising Eman Bacosa impresses in Blow-by-Blow

“As I have pledged before, Blow-By-Blow will be used a platform for the showcase of topnotch Filipino ring talent,” Manny Pacquiao, the eight-division legend, said as the weekly boxing show fulfills its commitment to Philippine boxing.

“Remember that I also started as a nobody like many of our dear Filipino boxers,” Pacquiao, Blow-By-Blow’s most outstanding product said.