News
Regine Diego keeps NU system familiar, says ‘best yet to come’
Regine Diego believes the best is yet to come after National University opened its campaign in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament with a hard-fought victory over University of Santo Tomas on Sunday night.
The Lady Bulldogs leaned on rookie Sam Cantanda’s late fourth-set heroics to fend off the Golden Tigresses, 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 26-24, in front of 15,215 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
NU had a chance to close out the match in straight sets but faltered down the stretch, allowing UST to mount a spirited third-set stand and force a fourth frame.
“Well, truthfully, I don’t think any team is playing their best for today,” said the former Lady Bullpups head coach, who replaced Sherwin Meneses before the start of the season.
“It’s going to be a very long journey, and it’s going to be an experience for everyone. I don’t think this is our best yet, marami pa kaming pwedeng ayusin at perfectin.”
Despite a few lapses here and there, Diego said the Lady Bulldogs still performed well, even after committing more unforced errors, 26-23, than the Golden Tigresses.
“But, for sure, we are going to do our best. To be better every game. Dun sa review… I think for today, we played well, but we can do better. Mga 8 [out of 10]. Still, a win is a win, and we’re very grateful,” added the former F2 Logistics coach.
Diego also emphasized that her system is largely player-oriented, designed to maximize the strengths of a roster she believes is already brimming with talent.
With the core of the squad seasoned and skilled, the first-year mentor said her role is to put the players in positions where they can thrive, tailoring schemes around what the team does best as they pursue a third straight UAAP title.
“Well, I’ve been making this team about them, so our system is not dependent on me. But I’m trying to make it, I want to make them decide what they want, what they’re comfortable with [what] they’re very good at,” she said.
“So the system is their system na nililinis lang namin. I’m not trying to make a really different change na nakakagulat na malalaki. We’re just trying to linis what they know already because everybody’s skillful na,” Diego continued.
“So tuloy-tuloy na, lahat ng matututunan nila sa lahat ng coaches. We’re trying to get the best practices, best things, so that we can still defend the championship.”
#WATCH: NO BIG CHANGES
Regine Diego is not forcing her NU Lady Bulldogs to go out of their comfort zones, adjusting her system to them
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https://t.co/jDfr9jq4Wk
@jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason88 pic.twitter.com/lFr1UCht2Q
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) February 15, 2026
The post Regine Diego keeps NU system familiar, says ‘best yet to come’ appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
News
Sweden, Czech set up World Cup base camp in Texas
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.
News
JC Enarciso rises when it mattered most for Savouge
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.
“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.
News
Creamline returns to PVL Finals, sets up showdown vs Cignal
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.
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.
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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