Greg Ancheta relished the opportunity to face his mentor, Jessie Lopez, as National University-Archipelago Builders cruised to a dominant victory over the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday.

Ancheta admitted that going up against Lopez for the first time was a special experience, as he hoped the lessons he learned from the Bulldogs assistant coach were evident in his performance against the Cavaliers.

“Siyempre, unang beses ko ’tong nakalaban si Coach Jess (Lopez). Natutuwa ako kasi I hope na nakikita niya yung mga tinuturo niya sa akin. Nagpapasalamat ako,” said Ancheta following NU’s 25-14, 25-16, 25-19 win over AFP at the Philsports Arena.

Ancheta has been under Lopez’s wing since joining the Bulldogs last year. The 22-year-old playmaker credited the assistant coach with helping shape his approach to the game, particularly his mindset, courage, and composure in challenging situations.

The lessons, he said, have been especially valuable as he continues to develop his game and assume greater responsibilities heading into his fourth year in the UAAP.

(C) Spikers Turf Images

“Tinuturo niya sa akin is yung mindset and kung paano magiging matapang maglaro, and paano mag-iisip pagdating sa mahirap na sitwasyon ng laro,” said Ancheta, who also represented Alas Pilipinas earlier this year.

Ancheta finished with 19 excellent sets against AFP, orchestrating NU’s balanced offensive attack as the Bulldogs dominated the Cavaliers.

His growth was also evident in how he responded to NU’s first setback against defending champion Criss Cross. The young setter worked on his decision-making and composure to help the Bulldogs bounce back and return to winning form.

“Unang una po, tinrabaho namin ‘yung service saka reception namin kasi dun kami nagkulang, kaya nahihirapan po kami makakuha ng defense dun sa laro namin against Criss Cross,” said Ancheta.

“For me, as setter, naging problema ko rin talaga nung game ng Criss Cross is masyado akong nagmamadali. So nag-mindset ako na kailangan kalmahan ko lang para hindi rin magbago ‘yung tempo ng laro.”

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Farm Fresh has yet to find a steady rhythm in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Siklab series, with Royse Tubino attributing the team’s up-and-down start to its ongoing adjustment to the new all-to-play format.

The Foxies have alternated wins and losses through their first five outings, compiling a 3-2 win-loss record while repeatedly finding themselves in extended battles.

Four of those five matches have gone the distance, including their latest 25-21, 18-25, 21-25, 25-19, 15-10 escape against ZUS Coffee, where they recovered from a 1-2 deficit to secure their third victory of the conference.

“Siguro, sa amin, yung momentum kasi kapag nakuha namin yung first set, tapos nag-iiba yung second set, nawawala yung momentum ng team,” said Tubino, who sat out the entire second set due to the rule but still finished with 20 points.

“So kailangan namin makuha, mag-gel pa talaga, masanay na ganoon yung setup ng PVL ngayon.”

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Their four five-set appearances account for half of the eight matches in the tournament that have gone the distance so far. Farm Fresh has split those encounters, claiming victories over Choco Mucho and ZUS Coffee while suffering defeats against Nxled and Akari.

The Farm Fresh veteran stressed that the team is still adjusting to the format, particularly learning how to regain its composure and refocus after each break to ensure it carries the right mindset and energy into the succeeding sets.

Against ZUS Coffee, the Foxies experienced that challenge firsthand after opening with a 25-21 win before dropping the next two sets, putting themselves in danger of suffering another defeat.

“Mindset siguro kasi galing sa first set, tapos rest, tapos bakbakan ulit ng third set. So nasa mindset, tapos kuha ulit ng momentum para makabalik ulit,” said Tubino.

With the Foxies now tied with Choco Mucho for third place at 3-2, Tubino hopes their continued adjustment to the all-to-play format will translate into more consistent performances as the conference progresses.

“Siguro, siyempre, best effort pa rin kami na kukunin namin sa training kasi doon talaga lalabas yung laro namin. Sa training, uumpisahan namin para pagdating ng game, lalabas yung kung anong natutunan namin sa training.”

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By: Joaquin Cortez

Alpha Insurance rediscovered its winning touch by turning a difficult stretch into a statement performance, sweeping AEP-Cabstars, 25-19, 25-22, 25-20, to snap its two-game losing skid and return to the winning column in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

After absorbing defeats at the hands of the NU-Archipelago Builders Bulldogs and Criss Cross King Crunchers, the Protectors responded with a more composed performance, leaning on Axel Book and Barbie San Andres, who combined for 27 points to improve their record to 2-2 and gain a share of fifth place.

Alpha Insurance head coach Mike Santos stressed that his team needed to approach every match with the same level of preparation and intensity, regardless of its opponent.

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“‘Di madali ‘yung tatlo naming nakalaban, so minindset ko lang rin ‘yung mga players na ‘yung Spikers’ Turf, wala talagang mahihinang team. Every time na maglalaro tayo, every time na pupunta tayo sa court, we have to do our best sa kung sinong makakatapat natin,” said Santos.

“I think nag-respond naman ang mga players tungkol doon sa maganda naman ‘yung pinakita nila,” he added.

Alpha Insurance maintained control for most of the opening set before Jetlee Gopio’s off-the-block hit and a successful joust helped the Protectors close out the frame, 25-19.

The Cabstars put up a stronger fight in the second set, with Leo Aringo’s crosscourt hit trimming the Protectors’ lead to two, 14-12. However, Alpha Insurance kept AEP-Cabstars at bay, as Gopio delivered a kill to put his team at set point, 24-21.

San Andres then sealed the set with a crosscourt hit, giving the Protectors a two-set advantage, 25-22.

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After Dave Lardizabal’s service ace tied the third set at 13-all, the Protectors responded with a 4-0 run, capped by Book’s own ace to establish a four-point cushion, 17-13.

Despite Bembem Bautista giving the Cabstars another lifeline with two late kills, Book eventually put the finishing touches on the sweep with a crosscourt hit to seal the one-hour-and-23-minute victory.

For San Andres, the key to the bounce-back performance was rediscovering the enjoyment of playing, rather than becoming too consumed by the pressure to win.

“Ang mindset lang po namin ng teammates ko and coaches is i-take po itong game na ito na light lang po kasi ‘yung mga past few games namin, sobrang eager po kami manalo doon po sa malalakas na teams na nakakalimutan namin mag-enjoy,” said San Andres, who finished with 12 points on 10 attacks and two aces.

Aside from Book and San Andres, Gopio chipped in 10 points, including six blocks, while EJ Casaña tallied 20 excellent sets and three points for the Protectors.

Alpha Insurance will have less than 24 hours to recover before facing the winless AFP Cavaliers on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 3:30 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena.

Meanwhile, Lardizabal paced the Cabstars with 16 points on 15 attacks. Aringo, who powered AEP-Cabstars to their breakthrough win over the Armed Forces of the Philippines last Sunday with 23 points, was limited to 11 as the team dropped to 1-3.

The Cabstars will look to snap their early-season skid when they face the undefeated King Crunchers on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 11 a.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

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