News
Bella Belen wows Rald Ricafort, Kianna Dy with MVP-like performance
Rald Ricafort didn’t mince words when praising Bella Belen, calling the league’s top overall pick a force to be reckoned with and declaring she has what it takes to be a legitimate MVP candidate this season.
PLDT, which limited Belen to just 13 points in her official PVL debut during the previous conference, faced a very different player this time—one who exploded for a PVL career-high 28 points and proved she was no longer just a rising star.
Ricafort, a two-time champion with PLDT and Petro Gazz, said the 23-year-old outside spiker’s performance could be a preview of what’s to come in her second conference in the league.
“Nung huling beses ko siya na-congratulate, Bella Bytsenko ang tawag ko sa kanya,” said Ricafort, drawing a comparison to the import-level numbers of Sasha Bytsenko, the Solar Spikers’ Reinforced Conference import.
“Ganyan talaga magiging season niya. For sure, MVP candidate talaga siya this season.”
Ricafort went on to praise Belen as a complete package, highlighting her attacking prowess, precise passing, and ability to convert out-of-system plays—qualities that make her, in his eyes, one of a kind.
The three-time UAAP MVP finished with 26 attacks, one block, one ace, 10 digs, and 12 receptions, but the High Speed Hitters still secured a 25-20, 25-16, 22-25, 25-17 win for a 2-0 start in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
“‘Yun nga eh. ‘Yun talaga nilook-forward namin today na i-try talaga bawasan si Bella. Pero siyempre, credit pa rin sa kanya dahil nandun talaga ‘yung skill eh. Kumpleto laro, passing, out-of-system,” Ricafort said.
“Parang nakarami siyang points backrow pa, so siya talaga ‘yun. Bigay namin ‘yun sa kanya.”
Former national team teammate Kianna Dy echoed the praise, noting that Belen has grown even more complete and confident since their days together with Rebisco at the 2021 AVC Women’s Club Championship. Dy described her as noticeably more mature and refined now.
“I guess I feel like mas mature siya ngayon very calm na siya inside, dinadala na niya yung teammates niya,” said Dy, who was tasked with defending Belen above the net.
“Before kasi sa national team which was many years ago medyo baby baby pa siya so ayun mas mature leader type siya,” she added.
Despite PLDT’s careful preparation to contain her, Belen still erupted for 28 points—a clear testament to her unstoppable talent and growth as a player.
“Ang likot ng bola niya, madaming daan yung bola niya so mahirap talagang i-block. Kita naman sa 28 points niya, we prepared for her also. Alam naman na Bella will be given a lot of balls. Ayun, 28 points nga siya,” Dy said.
#WATCH: MAKULIT YUNG BOLA NIYA
Kim Kianna Dy sees vast improvements from Bella Belen since the last time they played together in the national team #ReadMore
https://t.co/PUkLFBilni
@jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#PVL2026 pic.twitter.com/LIYamE4rPK
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) February 12, 2026
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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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