NY Spikers coach, Lizzy Asemah is looking forward to more victories, after her side secured a hard fought 3-2 win over QAT Spikers in the Nigerian Women’s National Division 1 & 2 Volleyball League at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Sports247 reports that Asemah was uneasy at a point, after NY Spikers claimed the opening set 26-24 and QAT responded strongly with a dominant 25-14 win in the second set.

QAT also edged the third set 26-24 to move within touching distance of victory, but NY Spikers fought back brilliantly to take the fourth set 25-15 and force a deciding set.

Much to the coach’s delight, NY Spikers stayed focused in the decisive fifth set to seal a memorable 15-11 triumph and record their first win of the campaign.

Asemah said afterwards that she was proud of her players for their determination and courage throughout the encounter, which put them in contention to win the competition when the final holds on June 5th.

The amiable coach praised the fighting spirit of her players, saying they gave their very best, despite many of them being amateurs that played against a more experienced and better-prepared side.

Asemah described the victory as a massive confidence booster for her team, especially considering their limited preparation and lack of experience compared to their opponents, but assured that they will get better with each match.

“I feel elated. If I say I am happy is an understatement. It was our first outing and we secured our first win. It is a very big plus for myself and the team. Our self-confidence has taken up to a 100 percent right now.

“I am most happy because my players are amateur players and they had to battle against people who have been in camp for so long and who have experienced a lot of training. We had a short time to prepare. We are glad.

“I am so proud of them right now. Even if they had lost, I will always be proud of them. To whom much is given, much is expected and for every new level there is a new devil. We are ready to take the devil ahead of the levels,” Asemah posited.

The post NY Spikers Target More Victories In National Division 1 & 2 Volleyball League first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.

The post NY Spikers Target More Victories In National Division 1 & 2 Volleyball League appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Akari-Rizal shook off a sluggish start to fend off RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT, 89-72, and take a share of the lead in the 2026 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League on Wednesday afternoon at the Victoria Sports Center.

Trailing by as many as 12 points after a scoreless first quarter, longtime teammates Raiza Palmera-Dy and Allana Lim joined forces to turn things around and power Akari to its third consecutive win.

Palmera-Dy led the way with 26 points on 6-of-10 shooting from three, along with nine assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while Lim added 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting, plus five steals, four rebounds, and two assists.

With their combined efforts, the Sparks tied Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire at the top of the six-team field in the tournament backed by Aktive, both holding identical 5-1 win-loss records.

(C) WMPBL

“We did not start well the way I was expecting them to do. We were not running our offense. They were good shots, but we were not getting better shots. Mentally, we were not ready to play them right away — we ran away from what we were doing. As I have said, we have to make up for it on the other end, and that’s what we did, we played well defensively,” Akari head coach Derrick Pumaren said.

“We were able to clamp down on defense, that’s why we won the game,” he added.

Determined to bounce back from a lackluster opening period—where the Sparks fell into a 5-17 hole, missed all 14 field goal attempts, and committed eight turnovers—Akari responded with a dominant second quarter. The Sparks outscored RK Hoops 35-16, highlighted by three consecutive triples from Jhenn Angeles and a Lim floater, to take a 40-33 halftime lead.

Akari then broke the game open in the third quarter, with Lim scoring the team’s first nine points before Palmera-Dy added 11 straight points of her own, pushing the Rizal-based squad to a commanding 63-44 lead with 2:39 remaining in the period.

RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT managed to cut the deficit to 13, but an Angel Anies layup followed by another Palmera-Dy triple restored a 79-60 cushion for the Sparks with 5:35 left.

Anies finished with 14 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals, while Mar Prado added 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Angeles contributed 12 points, including three triples, along with five assists and two steals.

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Meanwhile, RK Hoops Quezon City-10ACT absorbed a tough setback, slipping to fourth place with a 2-5 record.

University of Santo Tomas alumna Tantoy Ferrer led the Quezon City-based squad with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, along with 10 rebounds, six assists, and two steals, while Caryl Molina and Faith Panti added 11 points each in the loss.

Mikee Antonio chipped in 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal, while Natasha Alcantara added eight points.

The Scores:

Akari-Rizal (89) – Palmera-Dy 26, Lim 17, Anies 14, Prado 13, Angeles 12, Sambile 4, Abatayo 3, Ventura 0, Nagma 0, Galicia 0, Salapong 0, Candelario 0, Flor 0, Del Prado 0.

RK Hoops-Quezon City (72) – Ferrer 17, Molina 11, Panti 11, Antonio 10, Alcantara 8, Larosa 8, Dela Cruz 3, Dampios 3, Buendia 1, Cayco 0, Isip 0.

Quarterscores: 5-17, 40-33, 63-50, 89-72.

The post Palmera-Dy, Lim spark Akari surge as Sparks seize share of WMPBL lead appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

On the couple’s second anniversary as partners,Kai Sotto and long-time girlfriend Rere Madrid tied the knot in a private ceremony held at Neri’s Secret Garden in Tagaytay, marking a deeply personal milestone that they later shared with the public on Wednesday evening.

The couple made the announcement through their respective social media accounts, revealing that they exchanged vows in an intimate celebration attended only by close family and friends.

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Sotto, who is currently a free agent, is coming off his second season with Koshigaya in the B.League, where he saw action in 28 games and posted solid averages of 13.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 block per outing.

The 24-year-old Filipino center and Madrid, a 26-year-old model-actress, have been together since May 18, 2024, making their wedding on the same date in 2026 a celebration of their relationship’s second year.

Messages of congratulations quickly poured in from Sotto’s Gilas Pilipinas teammates and basketball peers on social media.

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“Congrats Kuya Kai,” said June Mar Fajardo.

“Congrats sir Kai Sotto,” shared Calvin Oftana.

“Congratulations brother,” wrote his former Ateneo teammate SJ Belangel.

“Congratulations Zach,” added CJ Perez.

The post Kai Sotto, Rere Madrid marry on second anniversary in intimate Tagaytay ceremony appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.