Latest news with #BEAMICALLER
GMA Network
21-06-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Kungfu Reyes named new head coach of rebuilding San Beda Lady Red Spikers
NCAA By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News From tigers' lair to the lions' den. Kungfu Reyes is bringing his coaching brilliance to Mendiola after being tapped to be the new head coach of San Beda University women's volleyball team. The school announced the development on Saturday as the Lady Red Spikers try to revive their program following years of consecutive Final Four misses in the NCAA. Reyes, who recently dropped his women's coaching duty with University of Santo Tomas to focus on being the program director, now became the fifth head coach of San Beda in the last five seasons. Nemesio Gavino called the shots when the league returned after the pandemic in Season 97 before he was replaced by Ariel Dela Cruz in Season 98. Dela Cruz didn't last long either after San Beda tapped renowned tactician Edgar Barroga in Season 99 until the latter was let go midway through Season 100. Joshua Noda then came in as the interim head coach, leading the Lady Red Spikers to a 4-14 win-loss record finish in the centennial edition. Reyes will inherit a core led by incoming third-year outside spiker Angel Habacon alongside Janelle Bachar, Rianne Bedural, and Patricia Hiponia as San Beda looks to restore its winning ways. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
16-06-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
NCAA to stage Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News The NCAA is set to launch a special event that features Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, one of the most popular esports in the country, before formally closing out Season 100. NCAA management committee chairman Hercules Callanta of Lyceum of the Philippines University shared that the ML:BB tournament will fire off on June 28 with the first round robin happening until the 29th. The second round robin will be held from July 12 to 13 before the offline finals round take place from July 25 to 27 in the Philippine Game Development Expo (PGDX) at the SMX Convention Center. Callanta, though, emphasized that the ML:BB competition is not part of the regular calendar of events, but stressed the NCAA is open to the idea of including it for good in the future. "It's a special event. The aim is to highlight 'yung mga popular games in the Philippines that are not part of the calendar of events ng NCAA pero they're very popular," Callanta told GMA News Online on Monday. "And to see the sport and how it will be received by the member schools and possibly look at the logistical needs and the possibility of including it sa regular sports." This will not be the first time that NCAA schools are taking part in esports events. In 2021, the Collegiate Center for Esports (CCE) staged an ML:BB contest that featured participation from all 10 member schools. The event drew added interest as several squads were led by prominent collegiate basketball players, including Fran Yu, King Caralipio, Damie Cuntapay, Yukien Andrada, Warren Bonifacio, and Jasper Cuevas. LPU emerged as the inaugural champion of that tournament with Yancy Remulla taking home the MVP honors. Callanta said the league's past experiences in hosting or participating in esports tournaments paved the way for the introduction of ML:BB this year while also sharing that Valorant will be staged next year. "Actually, through the efforts of Esports Philippines, for the past two or three years already, they conducted competitions in esports among the member schools of the NCAA so sanay na 'yung NCAA sa mga esports competitions kaya lang limited lang." —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
16-06-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Mathew Rubico returns home to LPU after two years in La Salle
NCAA By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News Matthew Rubico is making a homecoming in Intramuros as he returns to Lyceum of the Philippines University. The former NCAA high school standout confirmed that he is leaving De La Salle University in the UAAP after a two-year stay with the Green Archers to rejoin the LPU Pirates in their bid to win an elusive title. For Rubico, coming back to where it all started for him was a no-brainer as he is confident he can bring out his full potential under the guidance of LPU head coach Gilbert Malabanan. "Kaya po napili ko bumalik sa LPU kasi nararamdaman ko po na du'n ko po mas maipapakita 'yung talent na natutunan ko sa ilang taong pag-eensayo," Rubico told GMA News Online on Monday. "Sa tulong po ng mga coaches and mga magiging ka-teammates ko po, feel ko po na matutulungan po nila ako ilabas 'yung full potential ko." Rubico was a scoring machine in the juniors ranks, once erupting for a 43-point explosion back in Season 98 with the LPU Junior Pirates. His offensive onslaught earned him an inclusion in that edition's Mythical Five alongside Luis Pablo, Seven Gagate, Chris Hubilla, Amiel Acido, and Andy Gemao. He then decided to bring his act to the UAAP after joining La Salle. He sat out Season 86, where the Green Archers captured the crown against University of the Philippines. He was lined up in the recent Season 87, but the Taft crew faltered in their title defense after bowing to the Fighting Maroons in the finals. The young guard, though, feels his future is in LPU. He is now linked up with the Pirates anew as he looks to lead the rebirth of LPU after missing out on the Final Four last year. "Nakikita ko po na magfi-fit naman po ako sa sistema ni Coach Gilbert. Kasi 'yung laro po nila is takbuhan, 'yun po 'yung gusto ko at nakasanayan ko na din po," Rubico added. "Kasi sa DLSU halos ganon din naman po'yung system namin. And gusto ko lang din po mag pasalamat sa DLSU, kay Coach Topex (Robinson), sa coaching staff, sa mga naging teammates ko, and sa mga managers po, maraming salamat po sainyong lahat. Marami po akong natutunan sa inyo na babaunin ko po sa buong basketball career ko at sa buong buhay ko." —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
15-06-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Brian Esquibel still proud of 'overachiever' Letran Knights despite finals heartbreak
NCAA By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News Colegio de San Juan de Letran's defeat in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball finals did not dampen head coach Brian Esquibel's pride in the Knights. The long-time tactician stressed that the team had exceeded expectations and vowed the only way forward is up as they set their sights on a redemption campaign come Season 101. And for the Knights, the work starts now. "Actually I'm very happy sa narating ng team kasi coming from top four tapos umabot ng finals, it's a big achievement na para sa amin kasi sabi ko nga sa kanila, baka hindi pa ito 'yung time kasi mga bata pa sila," Esquibel told GMA News Online last Wednesday. "Mahaba pang panahon 'yung mapagsasamahan ng team, sana maging lessons 'yung mga nangyari kasi kailangang mag-mature. And after ng game na 'to, magtatrabaho agad kami para sa next season." The Knights made some noise this season, leaning on veterans Vince Himzon and Bembem Bautista as well as young guns Dave Lardizabal, Christer Ambrocio, and Wayne Araño to end the elimination round at fourth spot with a 12-6 record. But in order to move forward, the Knights had to get past a huge roadblock that was De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the Final Four with the top-seeded Blazers holding a twice-to-beat bonus. Bautista went beastmode in the semifinals, unleashing 17 points in Game 1 that saw them sweeping the Blazers with a 25-17, 25-23, 25-23 win before detonating for a 27-point explosion in the do-or-die Game 2 to steer the Knights to a 22-25, 28-26, 25-14, 25-20 victory and into the finals. That win alone was already a historic one for Letran as it sent them to the championship round for the first time in 16 years. But the Knights faded in the finals against eventual champion Arellano University to cap off their stellar campaign. "Ngayon, meron na kaming championship experience na dadalhin para sa susunod na season. Ang sabi ko sa kanila walang hihinto hangga't walang ginto," Esquibel added. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14-06-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
After breakout rookie year, Vanessa Sarie sets sights on redemption bid with Letran
NCAA By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News Vanessa Sarie had an explosive entrance into the NCAA, shattering records and steering Colegio de San Juan de Letran to another finals trip in the NCAA — all in her rookie year. The 19-year-old outside spiker, though, isn't anywhere near satisfied. Sarie said her breakout rookie year was only the beginning as she's now eager to get back to work and help the Lady Knights quench a long-standing drought, one that includes back-to-back finals heartbreaks in Season 99 and the recently-concluded Season 100 both against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. "Sobrang memorable ko sa season ko ngayon kasi bumalik kami sa finals and nando'n pa rin 'yung regret namin, sayang kasi may goal kami this season na championship tapos hindi namin nakuha," Sarie told GMA News Online. "Napanghinaan lang ng loob sa dulo pero babalik kami next season na mas malakas at mas experienced." Sarie herself had a season to remember, emerging as the top-scoring player in the women's division with an impressive 310 points highlighted by a career-high 37-pout outburst less than a month ago against Arellano University. The Camarines Sur pride was also the third-best spiker which led her to bagging the second Best Outside Spiker, Freshman of the Year, and Rookie of the Year honors. Sarie admitted that while her individual performance stood out, it means little without a championship to show for it. And the good news for the Lady Knights is that they'll return in Season 101 with valuable finals experience and a solid core intact with only middle blocker Royce Dela Cruz leaving the team. "Oo naman po satisfied po ako pero nando'n pa rin 'yung eagerness ko na mag-improve pa next season nando'n," she added. "Lahat naman kami eager na makuha 'yung championship next season. Nando'n po kami lahat sa gustong mag-improve pero step by step lang kami. Magre-ready muna kami sa mga pre-season namin na laro. Mas handa na kami next season." —JKC, GMA Integrated News
