News
Angel Pascual brings Ana Santiago’s ‘don’t treat any game lightly’ mindset to UP
For a third consecutive season, University of the Philippines remained in contention for a championship, anchored by a core that consistently sets the standard for its play.
Last season, the Fighting Maroons leveraged their offensive firepower and well-oiled system to reach yet another Finals series. But when one crucial weapon was missing at the wrong time, the squad eventually surrendered another title to the Adamson Lady Falcons.
A key part of that offensive arsenal was smart, strategic baserunning, delivered by then-second-year outfielder Angel Pascual. She would go on to claim the Most Stolen Bases award, complementing the hitting and slugging of her captain and eventual MVP, Nickole Dela Cruz.
Pascual’s skills, paired with her strong defensive performance, caught the attention of national team coaches, including Adamson head coach Ana Santiago, a two-time Finals opponent. Days after the Season 87 Finals, Pascual was training with the Blu Girls.
Her debut with the national squad was a roller-coaster ride, culminating in her first-ever SEA Games gold in women’s softball and the country’s 11th straight. Pascual described the experience as both challenging and rewarding.
“Yung rookie time ko sa national team, hindi siya naging gano’n kadali kasi mas bata ka, tapos makikipagsabayan ka sa mga veterans,” the Secondary Education junior shared.
“Mahirap makipagsabayan, pero at the same time, masaya siya kasi nga ibang level na ‘yon. Mahirap siya na masaya kasi ang dami kong natutunan.”
The Blu Girls also competed in the Women’s Asia Cup, and while the Philippines’ level of play is high, Santiago always reminded her players to stay grounded and approach every game with full effort.
Pascual has carried that lesson into her third year with UP.
“Siguro ‘yung pagiging determinado kasi kapag sa national team, kailangang palaban ka. Lahat ng game, dapat laban,” she said.
“Sabi nga ni Coach Ana, walang i-easy-hing kalaban. Lahat — mahina man o malakas — kailangang pinaghahandaan, kasi do’n mo talaga makikita na professional kang maglaro. Yung wala kang sinasabihan na, ‘Mahina lang yan; kahit hindi na tayo maghanda.’ Lagi niyang sinasabi sa ‘min na, malakas o mahina ang kalaban, lumaban pa rin ng patas.”
These are the lessons Pascual hopes to bring to the pitch as one of UP’s most experienced student-athletes, both as a third-year and as a Blu Girl.
“Siguro ‘yung masasabi ko lang na kahit gaano kahirap ‘yung training, mentally and physically, hindi ka dapat sumuko. Kasi at the end of the day, sarili mo lang rin talaga ‘yung kakampi mo sa lahat and makakatulong sa’yo,” the Bulakenya standout added.
After a rousing win against Ateneo de Manila University to start the season, Pascual hopes UP will continue refining its game and showing up fully on the pitch, maintaining the high level it achieved over the past three years.
“Looking forward, gusto kong makita ‘yung pinaghandaan ng UP team, kasi talagang naghanda naman kami. Siyempre, gustong makita na mailabas namin ‘yung pinaghandaan namin,” she said.
“Marami na kasing aalis sa amin, so gusto kong makita na maibigay namin ‘yung full best namin.”
The post Angel Pascual brings Ana Santiago’s ‘don’t treat any game lightly’ mindset to UP 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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