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Vange Alinsug says NU is ‘unbreakable’ amid coaching changes

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National University’s revolving door of coaches spun again, heading into the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament, with Regine Diego taking over the squad.

Karl Dimaculangan served as the Lady Bulldogs’ head coach in Season 84, leading them to end a 65-year championship drought. He also guided the team in Season 85, when they fell to the De La Salle Lady Spikers in the Finals.

The coaching carousel continued from there. Norman Miguel was tasked with bringing NU back on top and succeeded in Season 86, before Sherwin Meneses took over and led the Lady Bulldogs to their first-ever back-to-back titles.

But according to Vange Alinsug, that constant change is part of the team’s beauty and no matter how many coaching changes they face, this NU volleyball program will be competitive.

Take the three titles in four seasons as proof.

“Malaking tulong si Coach Reg sa amin pero ang maganda rin talaga sa team namin ay ayun nga talagang unbreakable kami kasi kahit na every year nagpapalit kami ng coach nandito pa rin kami. Yes po and totoo po yun,” said Alinsug, Season 87 Co-Finals MVP, during the league’s Media Day at the TV5 Media Center last Sunday.

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Alinsug hopes the Lady Bulldogs’ unbreakable mindset will carry them to continued success, despite significant losses in personnel after last season. Three-time MVP Bella Belen and 6-foot-1 opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon have now moved to the professional ranks.

Although filling such big shoes is a challenge, Alinsug and setter Camilla Lamina believe the team can collectively make up for what was lost, with a promising batch of rookies set to make their collegiate debut, led by UAAP Season 87 High School Girls’ Volleyball MVP Sam Cantada.

“It’s everyone kasi hindi rin naman natin masasabi kung sino ang magfi-fill ng shoes ng mga umalis pero lahat kami palaban so dapat, maging ready talaga kami kasi mahaba yung season eh so I think lahat naman po kayang i-fill in yun lahat,” said Alinsug.

“Very excited ako sa mga bata ngayon kasi they are coming from a champion team din which is NUNS and malaking bagay din yun. I am excited kasi alam kong mag step up sila lalo na siguro sa mga crucial moments,” added Lamina, as homegrown spikers Denesse Daylisan and Harlyn Serneche made the leap to the collegiate team.

While the departures of Belen and Solomon were significant, NU’s talent pool mirrors its revolving door of coaches. Two generational players may have graduated, but the Lady Bulldogs remain in capable hands with Alinsug, Lamina, Arah Panique, and a promising crop of rookies.

The post Vange Alinsug says NU is ‘unbreakable’ amid coaching changes appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

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Sweden, Czech set up World Cup base camp in Texas

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Sweden and Czech Republic have chosen Northern Texas as base camp for the 2026 World Cup.

Sweden, who qualified for the Mundial via the UEFA Playoffs, will train at FC Dallas home ground, the Toyota Stadium in Frisco.

The Czech Republic, on the other hand, will train at the Mansfield new stadium.

They will play their World Cup group games in Mexico and Atlanta, while Sweden will play in Arlington, Mexico and Houston.

The post Sweden, Czech set up World Cup base camp in Texas first appeared on Score Nigeria.

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JC Enarciso rises when it mattered most for Savouge

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Great teams adjust under pressure, and Savouge did just that, pulling off a bold gamble to force an all-or-nothing Game 3 in the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference Finals.

Head coach Sydney Calderon turned to usual second-stringer JC Enarciso to orchestrate the offense in place of All-Star starter Vince Imperial, and the move paid off.

Enarciso delivered a masterclass, guiding the Spin Doctors to a 25-22, 25-21, 25-19 sweep of the King Crunchers in Game 2 on Friday evening at the Filoil Centre in San Juan — extending the best-of-three series to a deciding match.

The Perpetual Help product dished out 22 excellent sets, powering an attack that saw four Savouge hitters reach double figures, led by Mark Calado’s 15 points.

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“Siguro di ko naman inisip na do-or-die kasi nga, alam namin na mananalo at mananalo kami. Kasi nga yung hirap namin sa training kahapon, doble, tsaka pinag-aralan talaga namin,” said Enarciso, emphasizing belief backed by preparation.

“Nag-compose lang kami every point, every rotation, every spike, every dig. Lahat ng skills ng volleyball nag-compose lang lahat kami,” he added.

Giles Torres, Louie Ramirez, and JP Bugaoan joined Calado in double-digit scoring with 10 points apiece, while Shawie Caritativo chipped in seven points, along with 15 receptions and six digs.

For Enarciso, his standout performance also stemmed from a disappointing first meeting with Criss Cross, where he felt he let Calderon and Savouge down.

He started in the Spin Doctors’ first-round matchup against the King Crunchers, who swept the match, 25-23, 29-27, 25-17.

“Siguro bumawi lang ako nung elimination round 1, kasi ako yung ginamit against sa kanila. Lumamang kami, pero nagkulang kami sa huli. Yun yung kulang ko nung elimination,” said Enarciso.

“Kaya siguro bumawi ako sa kanila. Nag-compose ako and naka-focus ako kung saan nakakapatay saka doon yung swerte, doon ako pumupunta.”

With the series now level and everything on the line, Enarciso feels determined not to let the opportunity slip away.

Game 3 takes place on Sunday at 4:00 PM at the same San Juan venue, where Criss Cross will aim for back-to-back titles, while Savouge seeks its first-ever championship.

The post JC Enarciso rises when it mattered most for Savouge appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

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Creamline returns to PVL Finals, sets up showdown vs Cignal

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Creamline is back in familiar territory—the Premier Volleyball League Finals.

The Cool Smashers outlasted the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-23, 14-25, 25-23, 25-19, in a virtual battle for the last remaining Finals spot in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.

This marks Creamline’s 15th Finals appearance and its first since the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference, missing the championship stage in the next three tournaments.

“Siguro number one yung mga players talagang nag-step up, talagang gusto nilang manalo today kasi yung Farm Fresh hindi rin talaga basta-basta veteran team din pero siguro mas gusto ng players ng Creamline na manalo, makabalik sa finals, makalaban yung Cignal,” said Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses.

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Creamline will face Cignal in the best-of-three Finals beginning Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game 2 is scheduled for next Thursday, while Game 3—if necessary—will be on April 28. All matches will be held at the Big Dome.

Cignal has won its past two meetings against Creamline in the semifinals and qualifying round, while the Cool Smashers took their preliminary round encounter.

Creamline was comfortably ahead, 19-14, in the third set, but second-stringer Mylene Paat sparked a Farm Fresh rally to tie it at 19.

The Cool Smashers, however, regained their composure and closed out the set, with Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao, Jema Galanza, and Tots Carlos delivering key hits to take a 2-1 set advantage.

Creamline then delivered a strong finishing kick in the fourth, turning a tight 19-17 lead into a 25-19 clincher behind Pangs Panaga, Jema Galanza, and errors from the opposition, sealing the win in two hours and nine minutes.

“Unang-una, sobrang masaya. Kasi hindi rin talaga naging madali yung journey namin na makabalik sa finals ngayong conference. So, sobrang happy, pero yun, hindi pa tapos yung laban. Kailangan namin ulit na maghanda, magtrabaho pa para makuha namin yung goal this conference,” said Pons, who finished with 12 points, 17 receptions, and 17 digs.

Three-time MVP Tots Carlos led the balanced Creamline attack with 15 points and 14 digs, while Jema Galanza and Pangs Panaga added 13 points each.

Jia De Guzman orchestrated the offense with 26 excellent sets and added five points, while Jen Nierva anchored the floor defense with 23 excellent receptions on 29 attempts.

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On the other hand, Farm Fresh will battle PLDT for the bronze medal.

Trisha Tubu spearheaded the Foxies anew with 21 points, while Ces Molina delivered an all-around effort with 19 points on 16 attacks and three aces, along with 20 receptions and 15 digs.

Royse Tubino added 12 points and 14 digs, while Paat contributed 11 points off the bench.

The post Creamline returns to PVL Finals, sets up showdown vs Cignal appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

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