LPU survives Benilde in five-setter to wrap season on high note
NCAA
Lyceum of the Philippines University survived league-leading De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 25-20, 15-25, 25-23, 23-25, 17-15, to wrap its campaign in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament on Friday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.
The two teams were tied at 12 in the fifth set before an unsuccessful block touch challenge and an attack error from LPU handed the Blazers the match point. Raymark Betco's service, however, went out, then Jun Edang scored back-to-back to hand LPU a 15-14 lead. Kevin Ondevilla then tied the set anew for the Blazers, but it was Edang who eventually sealed the victory for the Pirates.
Graduating Kian Moral, meanwhile, had 20 digs and 20 receptions.
Edang had 29 points from 27 attacks and two blocks, while Isaiah Chrys Santos had 18 points as the Intramuros-based crew finished the season on a high note and improved their record to 3-15.
Dexter Granadia and James Harold Marasigan led the Taft-based squad with 17 and 16 points, respectively, as they still finished on top with 14 wins and four losses. Rocky Motol and Mike Balbacal saw limited action in preparation for their Final Four match, while Jacob Agassi Herrera was temporarily sidelined due to a knee issue. Christian Aguilar, meanwhile, was converted to libero for today's game due to shoulder issues.
Benilde, who earned a twice-to-beat bonus as the no. 1 team, will take on Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the Final Four on Sunday.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
Clint Escamis is CPC Basketball Player of the Year; Carl Berdal, Zam Nolasco take top volleyball honors for NCAA
Mapua University's Clint Escamis was named by the Collegiate Press Corps as its Basketball Player of the Year which will be given on Monday in its annual Awards Night. Escamis, the Season 99 Most Valuable Player, led the Cardinals to its first title since 1991 in NCAA Season 100. By the end of the elimination round, Escamis had averages of 15.44 points, 3.61 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.89 steals per game and was among the league's leaders in scoring, total assists, and steals in the past season. In the finals where the Cardinals swept De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Escamis posted averages of 24.5 points, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals to be named as Finals MVP. Carl Berdal of Arellano University and Benilde's Zam Nolasco, meanwhile, were named as the Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Men's and Women's Volleyball Players of the Year, respectively. Berdal was named the Finals MVP of the Season 100 men's volleyball tournament as he led the Chiefs to its first title in men's volleyball. The Arellano veteran was among the league's top scorers at 11th place with a total of 255 points, a leader in spiking with 44.19% success rate, and second overall in receiving with an efficiency rate of 56.84%. Nolasco, on the other hand, was crucial in the Lady Blazers' campaign to reach their fourth straight title. The third year middle blocker was 12th overall in scoring with 211 points, and number one in blocking with 0.73 average by set, which earned her a spot in the league's Best Middle Blockers this season. In Game 1 of the finals, Nolasco paced Benilde with 21 points, eight from blocks, as the Lady Blazers eventually won the title. UAAP back-to-back MVP Kacey Dela Rosa of Ateneo de Manila University, meanwhile, was named as the Collegiate Press Corps Women's Basketball Player of the Year, while Bella Belen and Leo Aringo of National University were the top players in UAAP volleyball. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
NBA: Grizzlies trade 4 picks for Cedric Coward
Jun 25, 2025; Cedric Coward stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 11th pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2025 NBA Draft (Photo: Brad Penner-Imagn Images/REUTERS) The Memphis Grizzlies made one of the first big moves on NBA Draft night by sending two first-round picks and two second-rounders to the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 11 overall selection, which they used to take Washington State guard Cedric Coward on Wednesday night. The Grizzlies sent the No. 16 pick in the 2025 draft, a 2028 first-round pick (via the Orlando Magic) and two second-round selections to acquire the 6-foot-6 Coward, who began his college career playing Division III basketball but kept climbing the ladder with an automatic jumper, a 7-foot-2 wingspan and an indefatigable work ethic. Coward averaged 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in six games last year for Washington State before sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery. He committed to transfer to Duke for the upcoming season but opted to stay in the draft after earning rave reviews. The Houston Rockets selected Duke freshman center Khaman Maluach with the No. 10 pick overall, but he will be shipped to the Phoenix Suns as part of a deal reported Sunday that will send future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant from the Suns to the Rockets. The trade will be executed on July 6. Phoenix made another splash moments earlier, acquiring center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 29 selection (UConn guard Liam McNeeley) and a 2029 first-round pick. The 2029 selection will be the least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota (1-5 protected) and Utah. Williams, a three-year veteran, averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 44 games with Charlotte last season. As lottery picks kept going off the board, teams kept working their way up in the draft. The New Orleans Pelicans sent their first-rounder (23rd overall, Georgia's Asa Newell) and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick (most favorable of Milwaukee and New Orleans) to the Atlanta Hawks for the 13th overall pick. The Pelicans used it to select Maryland freshman center Derik Queen, who earned the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year award ahead of the Rutgers duo of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. The 6-foot-10 big man averaged 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in 36 games with the Terrapins. The Utah Jazz entered the fray shortly after, acquiring the No. 18 pick from the Washington Wizards. Utah gave up picks No. 21 (Illinois guard Will Riley) and No. 43 as well as 2031 and 2032 second-round selections to draft Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. The first-team All-American was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. The Kings reportedly dealt their 2027 first-round pick to the champion Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the 24th overall pick, which Sacramento used to select Colorado State guard Nique Clifford. The Indiana Pacers made the first trade on draft night. A week after trading away their first-round pick, they acquired a second-round pick from the San Antonio Spurs shortly before the draft began. The Pacers landed the 38th overall pick from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for the Kings' second-round selection in 2030 plus cash considerations. Indiana acquired the 2030 pick in a deal for shooting guard Chris Duarte in 2023. After trading the 23rd selection to the New Orleans Pelicans last week to reacquire their 2026 first-rounder, the Pacers now have picks No. 38 and 54 in this year's draft. The 2026 pick initially was included in the deal to acquire Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors. Toronto then shipped it to New Orleans as part of a package for Brandon Ingram. Coming off a devastating Game 7 loss to the Thunder in the NBA Finals, the Pacers may look to add depth with the extra pick. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon on a non-contact play seven minutes into Game 7 and is expected to miss most or all of the 2025-26 season. --Field Level Media/Reuters
GMA Network
5 days ago
- GMA Network
2025 NBA Draft: Top 30 prospects — and a few to know for Day 2
Cooper Flagg planted his flag as the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft long before he guided Duke to the Final Four as an 18-year-old freshman. The 6-foot-9 forward is viewed as the surefire top pick in the draft Wednesday, but how the rest of the class will develop behind him is anyone's guess. Here's a look at our top 30 players, ranked Flagg to 30, available in this year's draft with a few others to keep an eye on early on Day 2: 1. F Cooper Flagg, Duke 2. G Dylan Harper, Rutgers 3. F VJ Edgecombe, Baylor 4. G Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma 5. F Ace Bailey, Rutgers 6. G Kon Knueppel, Duke 7. C Khaman Maluach, Duke 8. C Derik Queen, Maryland 9. G Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois 10. G Tre Johnson, Texas 11. F Carter Bryant, Arizona 12. G Cedric Coward, Washington State 13. G Jase Richardson, Michigan State 14. G Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina 15. F Asa Newell, Georgia 16. G Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) 17. F Nique Clifford, Colorado State 18. F Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph's 19. F Thomas Sorber, Georgetown 20. G Egor Demin, BYU 21. F Nolan Traoré, Saint-Quentin (France) 22. F Noah Penda, Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France) 23. F Liam McNeeley, Connecticut 24. G Will Riley, Illinois 25. C Danny Wolf, Michigan 26. C Joan Beringer, Cedevita Olímpija (Slovenia) 27. G Walter Clayton Jr., Florida 28. G Hugo González, Real Madrid (Spain) 29. G Ben Saraf, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) 30. F Adou Thiero, Arkansas If your team is holding a selection at the top of the second round when the clock starts ticking on Thursday night, here are the names you are hoping to hear called: F Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Penn State F Hansen Yang, Qingdao (China) G Kam Jones, Marquette F Maxime Raynaud, Stanford G Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest G Chaz Lanier, Tennessee — Ethan Ward, Field Level Media/Reuters
