News
It was Girls Town energy, not just swagger, that fueled Fifi Sharma vs. Cignal
Fifi Sharma has played a vital role in Akari’s resurgence in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Sharma has become the Chargers’ spark plug, injecting energy and urgency that fueled their climb, powering the team to back-to-back wins after a dismal four-game slide to start the tournament.
The 5-foot-11 middle blocker’s impact was on full display in their gutsy 25-23, 20-25, 11-25, 25-23, 15-11 five-set triumph over Cignal on Saturday, as she tallied 16 points on 11 attacks and five kill blocks to lead Akari past the former league leaders.
But beyond the numbers, Sharma brought her signature swagger and infectious energy, lifting her teammates and intensifying the team’s play at crucial moments.
“Yes, super yes for me, especially kasi yun yung nakakapag-contribute, like yung energy ko sa loob ng court,” said the Alas Pilipinas standout.
“’Yun kasi yung nagbibigay sa akin ng purpose to play for my teammates kasi ayoko silang naaapi or ayoko silang—basta, ganun ako. Ako na lang yung mag-step up. Sige, bigay niyo na sa akin ’to, ako na yung magra-“rawr.” I love that!” she added.
Meanwhile, Chargers head coach Tina Salak highlighted the team’s body language, praising how her players carried themselves even during rough stretches of the match.
She said their composure and refusal to back down, even when momentum swung against them, reflected the growth and resilience the squad has been building.
“Magandang start yung makikita mo sila in a body language na yun nga sabi nila competitive and energized sila not because of other people, because kailangan din namin makuha yun,” said Salak.
“Yun yung isasabay namin kung paano namin i-handle yung game, paano namin i-contribute yung pwede naming galaw sa court especially when times are rough. I have to remind namin na walang ganung attachment sa sports, you have to refocus, you have to go back to the game plan,” she added.
Sharma, for her part, said the win was crucial for the team, giving them a much-needed boost and another chance to bounce back after a difficult start.
“This game talaga. I feel like monumental sa team, especially to get our momentum going, kasi nga we had a very bad start, so ngayon yung chance namin para magkaroon ng magandang momentum, and I feel like that’s my motivation playing for my teammates and contribute as much as I can to get the win,” said Sharma, daughter of former PBA player Carlo Sharma.
She also credited the intensity and energy of the fans for helping elevate the team’s play, noting that the crowd’s support kept their momentum alive throughout the match.
Adding to the excitement, Akari welcomed a special group of spectators from Sisters of Mary Girls Town in Cavite, whose presence gave the team an extra lift.
“Ang saya ng laro kapag ganun yung energy when you can see the passion. ’Yun din nakatulong siya kasi apart from the people cheering, andaming nanood today,” Sharma said.
“Sobrang nakakagana yung ganitong atmosphere na sobrang lively and sobrang ingay.”
The post It was Girls Town energy, not just swagger, that fueled Fifi Sharma vs. Cignal appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
News
Eya Laure powers Choco Mucho to back-to-back wins in PVL AFC, downs skidding Nxled
Eya Laure took control in the clutch as Choco Mucho extended its surge, handing Nxled its third straight loss with a hard-fought four-set 27-25, 28-26, 16-25, 25-19 victory in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the Filoil Centre.
Playing off the bench to manage an abdominal strain, Laure sparked the Flying Titans’ stunning comeback from a 9-15 deficit in the fourth set, unleashing a 16-4 finishing run that gave the team their first winning streak of the conference and evened their record at 3-3.
Facing a six-point deficit, Choco Mucho responded with a seven-point swing to take a narrow 16-15 lead. Brooke Van Sickle and Lyann de Guzman countered with back-to-back points to help the Chameleons retake the lead.
However, Laure took over, delivering six points in a 9-3 run that sealed the win for the Flying Titans.
Laure, who came off the bench in the first through fourth sets before starting in the fifth, finished with 13 points—all from attacks—in Choco Mucho’s two-hour triumph, as the team bounced back emphatically from a three-game skid.
“Sobrang happy ako sa naging performance ng team namin kasi ‘yun naman talaga ‘yung hinahanap namin sa kanila, kung paano kami maglaro,” said Flying Titans head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
“Although may mga problema nung first set, talagang sabi ko nga sa kanila, sila lang talaga ‘yung makakakuha ng solusyon kung ano ang gagawin namin. Ayun, naging maganda naman ‘yung takbo ng team. Sobrang thankful kami sa panalo,” he added.
Sisi Rondina led Choco Mucho with 24 points on 21 attacks, two aces, and one kill block, along with 20 excellent receptions and eight excellent digs.
Kat Tolentino added 15 points, while Lorraine Pecana and Des Cheng contributed eight and seven points, respectively.
Deanna Wong orchestrated the offense with 24 excellent sets, and Thang Ponce recorded 21 excellent digs.
Choco Mucho will aim for a third straight win when they face Farm Fresh next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the same venue.
Meanwhile, Nxled’s struggles continued as they dropped their third consecutive loss, sliding to 3-3 after winning their first three games.
Van Sickle tallied 20 points on 17 attacks, two service aces, and one kill block, along with 18 excellent receptions, while MJ Phillips added 13 points.
The road only gets tougher for Nxled as they prepare to face Creamline on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Filoil Centre in San Juan, hoping to end their slump.
The post Eya Laure powers Choco Mucho to back-to-back wins in PVL AFC, downs skidding Nxled appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
News
Eya Laure enjoys facing sis EJ, grateful for ‘other ate’ Sisi Rondina’s support
Eya Laure made sure to savor the rare opportunity to share the court with her sister EJ.
Though they stood on opposite sides of the net on Tuesday, the moment was one she deeply appreciated — a meaningful chapter in their shared journey after years of playing side by side from college to their early days in the Premier Volleyball League with Chery Tiggo.
“Actually, namimiss ko siya kasama,” said Eya following Choco Mucho’s 27-25, 28-26, 16-25, 25-19 win over EJ’s Nxled in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Centre.
“Pero iba pala yung feeling kapag kalaban ko siya. Kasi last na nakalaban ko siya, parang high school pa ako, tas college na, nagtu-tune up kami.”
That appreciation, however, did not erase the unfamiliarity of facing her sister as an opponent.
Still, Eya said she was simply happy to see her sister back on the same court with her, even if it meant standing on opposite sides of the net.
“Masaya lang ako, masaya ako na sabay kaming nakakapaglaro until now. Nakakatuwa kasi siyempre, parang pagka nakikita ko siyang pumapalo, alam ko na kaagad kung saan siya pupunta e,” said the Alas Pilipinas standout.
Eya came up big for the Flying Titans, scoring six of the team’s final 10 points to fuel a comeback from a 9-15 deficit in the fourth set and help secure their second consecutive win. She finished with 13 points on 13 attacks in the two-hour victory.
Meanwhile, EJ registered three points, playing only in the first two sets of the tightly contested match.
“Parang gano’n, sabi ko, gano’n ako ka-familiar sa ate ko. Na-miss ko rin kasi, siyempre, last namin, last kaming nagkasama, is last year? Last, last year. So ayun, parang iba lang yung feeling na ate mo yung kalaban mo,” Eya said.
Despite her heroics, Eya admitted it was a tough match, managing an abdominal strain along the way. She was, however, grateful to have another sister, Sisi Rondina, by her side, helping her navigate the challenges on the court.
“Pero buti na lang nandiyan si Ate Sisi sa side ko na ‘to tap. Kasi kung ano yung ginagawa ni Ate Sisi sa akin na pag-tap or pag-remind, yun yung ginagawa kasi ng ate ko before,” she said.
“So ayun lang, masaya na marami akong ate sa paligid ko.”
The post Eya Laure enjoys facing sis EJ, grateful for ‘other ate’ Sisi Rondina’s support appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
News
Dallas Trinity FC home ground designated for World Cup training
The home ground of Dallas Trinity FC, the Cotton Bowl Stadium at Fair Park, and Southern Methodist University (SMU) both in Dallas, have been confirmed to serve as official, venue-specific training sites for teams playing at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas during the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
Cotton Bowl hosted World Cup games during USA 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Teams will use these locations for training in the days leading up to their matches at Arlington.
The post Dallas Trinity FC home ground designated for World Cup training appeared first on Score Nigeria.
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