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Vange Alinsug says NU is ‘unbreakable’ amid coaching changes

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National University’s revolving door of coaches spun again, heading into the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament, with Regine Diego taking over the squad.

Karl Dimaculangan served as the Lady Bulldogs’ head coach in Season 84, leading them to end a 65-year championship drought. He also guided the team in Season 85, when they fell to the De La Salle Lady Spikers in the Finals.

The coaching carousel continued from there. Norman Miguel was tasked with bringing NU back on top and succeeded in Season 86, before Sherwin Meneses took over and led the Lady Bulldogs to their first-ever back-to-back titles.

But according to Vange Alinsug, that constant change is part of the team’s beauty and no matter how many coaching changes they face, this NU volleyball program will be competitive.

Take the three titles in four seasons as proof.

“Malaking tulong si Coach Reg sa amin pero ang maganda rin talaga sa team namin ay ayun nga talagang unbreakable kami kasi kahit na every year nagpapalit kami ng coach nandito pa rin kami. Yes po and totoo po yun,” said Alinsug, Season 87 Co-Finals MVP, during the league’s Media Day at the TV5 Media Center last Sunday.

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Alinsug hopes the Lady Bulldogs’ unbreakable mindset will carry them to continued success, despite significant losses in personnel after last season. Three-time MVP Bella Belen and 6-foot-1 opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon have now moved to the professional ranks.

Although filling such big shoes is a challenge, Alinsug and setter Camilla Lamina believe the team can collectively make up for what was lost, with a promising batch of rookies set to make their collegiate debut, led by UAAP Season 87 High School Girls’ Volleyball MVP Sam Cantada.

“It’s everyone kasi hindi rin naman natin masasabi kung sino ang magfi-fill ng shoes ng mga umalis pero lahat kami palaban so dapat, maging ready talaga kami kasi mahaba yung season eh so I think lahat naman po kayang i-fill in yun lahat,” said Alinsug.

“Very excited ako sa mga bata ngayon kasi they are coming from a champion team din which is NUNS and malaking bagay din yun. I am excited kasi alam kong mag step up sila lalo na siguro sa mga crucial moments,” added Lamina, as homegrown spikers Denesse Daylisan and Harlyn Serneche made the leap to the collegiate team.

While the departures of Belen and Solomon were significant, NU’s talent pool mirrors its revolving door of coaches. Two generational players may have graduated, but the Lady Bulldogs remain in capable hands with Alinsug, Lamina, Arah Panique, and a promising crop of rookies.

The post Vange Alinsug says NU is ‘unbreakable’ amid coaching changes appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

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Eya Laure powers Choco Mucho to back-to-back wins in PVL AFC, downs skidding Nxled

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Eya Laure enjoys facing sis EJ, grateful for ‘other ate’ Sisi Rondina’s support

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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.

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“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.

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Dallas Trinity FC home ground designated for World Cup training

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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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