By: Joaquin Cortez

Colegio de San Juan de Letran ended De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s perfect run, while Arellano University kept the University of Santo Tomas winless after contrasting five-set victories on Saturday in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

Letran rallied from a 2-1 set deficit to stun Benilde, 25-27, 22-25, 23-25, 27-25, 15-13, while Arellano survived a late UST fightback, 23-25, 25-22, 25-16, 13-25, 15-12.

The results left no undefeated teams in the division, with the Knights climbing to the top of the standings at 3-1 after winning three straight following their tournament-opening loss. The Chiefs improved to 2-1, while the Blazers dropped to 2-1 and the Golden Spikers remained winless at 0-3.

Letran’s victory also served as a measure of revenge against Benilde, which swept the Knights in the NCAA Season 101 semifinals in March before eventually claiming the 2026 title.

The Knights drew first blood before the Blazers responded with two straight-set victories to take a 2-1 lead.

Tied at 11-all in the fourth set, Benilde unleashed a 9-3 run capped by a Rocky Motol kill. Letran refused to go away, however, answering with a crucial 10-4 spurt. Reymark Betco’s attack sailed long to knot the set at 24-all.

The two teams then traded points before Vince Himzon delivered a kill, followed by another Betco attack that went long, forcing a deciding fifth set.

In the final frame, a Betco kill and a Himzon attack gave Letran a 14-12 cushion before another quick attack from Himzon sealed the victory and ended Benilde’s perfect run.

“Kasi diba [‘yong] first set nakuha namin, tapos medyo nag-relax sila. Akala kasi nila ‘yong kalaban ay magiging go-easy sa kanila. Syempre champion ng NCAA, so hindi natin pwedeng i-easy-easy lang,” Letran head coach Jessie Lopez said.

“Kailangan lang nilang maintindihan na ‘yong ginagawa namin every day sa training is gagawin mo [rin] sa game. Hindi puwede na may sistema kaming ginagawa sa training, tapos iba lang ang gagawin mo sa game,” he added.

Dave Lardizabal spearheaded the Knights with 24 points, while Himzon and Jessel Nimmo added 15 markers apiece. Motol led Benilde with 19 points, followed by Betco with 16.

(C) V-League

Later in the evening, Arellano needed five sets to keep UST from breaking through for its first win of the tournament.

The Golden Spikers overcame a 2-1 deficit to force a deciding fifth set, with John Catinsag delivering a pivotal service ace during their comeback.

Arellano, however, regained control in the final frame and built a 10-6 lead following a CJ Dominguito off-the-block conversion.

UST mounted one last push after Jiwen Sinuto committed an attack error, but Gboy de Vega’s service error ultimately ended the Golden Spikers’ comeback bid after two hours and eight minutes of action.

“One point lang lagi at the time. Tapos mag-focus lang kami, point by point. Tapos sana, ang importante eh, 100% effort talaga para makuha naman ang panalo lang,” Arellano head coach Bryan Vitug said. “Kada point talaga dapat tinatrabaho, hindi basta-basta [nawawala ang] focus.”

Dominguito led the Chiefs with 21 points, while Arvin Garcia added 11. De Vega paced UST with 18 points, while JJ Macam and Trevor Valera chipped in 16 apiece and Catinsag finished with 10.

Letran will look to extend its winning streak to four when it faces De La Salle University on Sunday, Sept. 6, at noon at Gameville Central Park.

Benilde, meanwhile, will try to bounce back against reigning V-League champions Far Eastern University on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the same venue.

Arellano will next face De La Salle University on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m., while UST will have two weeks to regroup before returning to action against the Mapua University Cardinals on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 3 p.m.

The post Letran ends Benilde’s perfect run, Arellano frustrates UST in V-League appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

National University and Arellano University opened their respective 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge campaigns on winning notes, with the Bulldogs surviving University of Santo Tomas in five sets and the Chiefs turning back Colegio de San Juan de Letran in four on Saturday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

NU showed immense championship composure to deny UST a comeback, 25–16, 25–15, 20–25, 22–25, 16–14, in a nearly two-hour battle.

Playing with its Alas Pilipinas quartet of Peng Taguibolos, Leo Ordiales, Buds Buddin, and Jade Disquitado for the first time in three campaigns, the Bulldogs leaned on their national team-caliber core to finish the match after surrendering a two-set lead.

Down 9–12 in the decider, Ordiales and Disquitado made up for their previous errors as they helped NU turn the tables and take a 13–12 lead, putting the Bulldogs within striking distance of victory.

Al Bukhaire Sali and Kris Hernandez tried to keep the Golden Spikers in the fight, but a net fault by GBoy De Vega handed the match-point advantage back to NU.

Disquitado then denied Sali’s attempt to end the match, helping the Bulldogs escape with the win. He finished with 15 points, including three blocks.

(C) V-League Images

“Siguro nung bandang huli pinakita nila ‘yung experience nila tsaka ‘yung championship pedigree nila sa bandang huli,” said acting coach Dong Dela Cruz, who is filling in for head coach Dante Alinsunurin, as he currently handles PVL club duties.

“Kasi nitong mga nakaraan, hindi sila pinapayagan ng national team, kaya wala kaming choice kundi i-enter yung ibang players namin. Ngayon, pinayagan na sila sa national team, kaya kumpleto kaming lahat,” the former national team deputy added.

Ordiales led NU with 19 points, including 17 from attacks, while Buddin and Taguibolos contributed 11 and seven markers, respectively. Greg Ancheta, the latest addition to the NU contingent on the national team, added 17 excellent sets and four points.

Sali paced UST with 17 points, while Hernandez had 10 markers in four sets and De Vega contributed 12 points and 11 excellent receptions.

NU will have less than 24 hours to recover before facing 2023 champions De La Salle University on Sunday at 5:00 PM. UST, meanwhile, will take on Letran at 3:00 PM.

(C) V-League Images

Arellano earlier secured its own opening-day victory, stopping Letran, 25–21, 18–25, 25–20, 30–28.

The Chiefs had to fend off a determined Knights side in a marathon 37-minute fourth set, with CJ Dominguito delivering the finishing touches to deny Letran a chance to force a decider.

“Maganda nilaro ng team namin, pero marami pang dapat i-improve. Kaya malaki talagang tulong ‘tong V-League kasi preparation namin sa NCAA,” said Budo Antiquera, who served as Arellano’s acting head coach with Bryan Vitug out of town for PVL duties with Nxled.

“Gagawin lang ng mga players yung mga dapat naming i-improve. Gagawin lang nila sa practice and then i-a-apply dito, para preparation sa NCAA talaga,” he added.

Dominguito paced the Chiefs with 21 points on 19 attacks, one block, and one service ace, while John Lester Calura chipped in 15 points and provided crucial support in the tight fourth set.

Arellano will shoot for a second straight win against reigning NCAA champions De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde on August 23 at 10:00 AM.

The defeat spoiled the Letran debut of head coach Jessie Lopez, although newly-minted captain Dave Lardizabal delivered a strong performance with 26 points in his new role as opposite hitter. Former skipper Vince Himzon added 14 points.

The post NU outlasts UST in V-League five-set thriller appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

After 12 years, the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines is returning to the MVP Group.

The NCAA officially named Cignal TV as its new broadcast partner, with the agreement finalized on Wednesday.

The partnership will begin with Season 102 under Season 103 with Cignal airing the Seniors Basketball, Women’s Volleyball, and Cheerleading Competition.

The announcement came a day after the 80th birthday of MediaQuest chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, making the occasion even more significant.

Pangilinan is a distinguished alumnus of San Beda University, the host school for NCAA Season 102.

“We’ve long been eyeing the NCAA to be added to our growing ledger of sports properties. Here in Cignal, we are sports, and we welcome you to your new home,” said MediaQuest Holdings Inc. Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

This athletic year’s theme is “Strive. Believe. Unite.”

“We are delighted to find the best home for the NCAA with Cignal, and we’re overjoyed to begin a new chapter in the storied history of the league. We believe this collaboration will strengthen Philippine sports and we look forward to a fruitful and meaningful collaboration with Cignal,” said NCAA Philippines Policy Board President Fr. Aloysius Maranan, OSB of host San Beda.

The last time the NCAA partnered with the MVP Group was from Seasons 88 to 90, when its games were aired on AKTV on IBC before moving to AksyonTV.

Since then, the league’s broadcasts have been handled by ABS-CBN Sports from Seasons 91 to 95 and GMA from Seasons 96 to 101.

The NCAA narrowed its search for a new broadcast partner to two finalists: Cignal TV and the Bilyonaryo-Abante Group.

According to multiple sources closely monitoring the negotiations, the NCAA ultimately chose Cignal TV because of its sports broadcasting expertise.

With the deal, Cignal TV now serves as the home of both the UAAP and the NCAA, further cementing its position as the home of collegiate sports in the Philippines.

It also marks the first time both collegiate leagues will be carried by the same network since the NCAA and the UAAP were both under ABS-CBN Sports.

“This partnership with the NCAA strengthens Cignal’s dedication to bringing only the best for Philippine sports and elevating it to new heights. We’re very thankful that you’ve entrusted us with this responsibility of covering the NCAA,” said MediaQuest Holdings Inc. President and CEO Ricky Vargas.

“Cignal is ready to bring the NCAA to the next level and we’re elated to bring the action to reach more audiences through our platforms,” added MediaQuest Holdings Inc. Chief Financial Officer & Cignal Officer-in-Charge Christopher Lizo.

NCAA Season 102 will open on September 13 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The post Cignal TV secures NCAA broadcast rights, becomes home of collegiate sports appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.