Latest news with #JUSTINKENNETHCARANDANG
GMA Network
10-06-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
High school volleyball coach Sandy Rieta talks about handling three teams for Perpetual
By JUSTIN KENNETH CARANDANG,GMA Integrated News Many coaches are already household names in collegiate volleyball like San Sebastian College-Recoletos' Roger Gorayeb, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's Jerry Yee, De La Salle University's Ramil De Jesus, or National University's Dante Alinsunurin. But while he has yet to win his own title in the collegiate ranks, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA's Sandy Rieta is carving his own path as well in high school volleyball. Rieta is the head coach of three different volleyball teams in Perpetual: the women's team in collegiate, and the boys and girls team in high school. Just recently, he steered both Perpetual high school squads to the finals of the NCAA Season 100 Volleyball Fiesta with the boys' team winning the title. It was already his seventh title with the boys team. "Walang pahinga eh," Rieta told GMA News Online after winning the boys' title last Sunday. "Bukas (Monday) tryout naman, tatlong team." [No rest... Tomorrow, we're holding tryouts, three teams.] The work just never stops for Rieta, who also handled previously Alas Pilipinas players EJ Casaña, Vince Lorenzo, and Noel Kampton. Asked how he balanced handling three teams this season — and all contenders, by the way, even if the Lady Altas finished fifth this season — Rieta himself said he asks himself the same question, too. "Minsan naiisip ko na rin 'yan pag mag-isa ako eh," he said in jest. "Lalo na 'pag talo, kailangan makaisa ka para mawala 'yung [pagod]. Ayun, time management, balance." [I sometimes think about that when I'm alone... Especially after a loss, you need to get one back so that the fatigure goes away. It's time management, balance.] Handling three teams in simultaneous tournaments is no easy task. "Katulad ng season na 'to, usually umaga laro ng boys, hapon 'yung girls or alternate sila, so 'pag may laro ang college ng 2:30 p.m. or 12 p.m., magte-training ako sa umaga, usually girls sa umaga, then alis ako, pagbalik ko high school boys." [Like this season, usually the boys play in the morning, the girls in the afternoon or they alternate so when the college teams play at 2:30 p.m. or 12 p.m., I'll hold training in the morning, usually the girls in the morning then I'll leave and when I return, it's the high school boys.] The Las Piñas-based teams also have to leave the campus four hours before their scheduled game, so add to that the travel time needed on top of his training sessions and the game proper. Rieta, however, said he is just happy with what he does. "Ganun din kasi eh, 'pag nasa puso mo, 'di ka rin nakakaramdam ng pagod, 'yung passion mo, tapos masaya ka sa ginagawa mo, hindi ka makakaramdam ng pagod. Maiisip mo lang 'yung pagod 'pag talo, honestly." [It's like that, if your heart's in it, you won't feel tired, if it's your passion, and you're happy with what you're doing, you won't feel tired. You only feel the fatigue when you lose, honestly.] Good thing that Rieta won one this season and perhaps, he can now take even just a short break before starting to prepare for the next season. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
09-06-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Freighanne Garcia erupts for 38 points to break NCAA scoring record, vows Mapua will be better
By JUSTIN KENNETH CARANDANG,GMA Integrated News It may not have been the ending they wanted for the season but Mapua University's Freighanne Garcia gave the Lady Cardinals something positive to build on. The Intramuros-based crew fell to Arellano University, 27-25, 22-25, 31-29, 20-25, 15-9, in the NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball battle for bronze to finish fourth in the tournament, but Garcia set a new league record as she erupted for 38 points. Garcia's 38 points eclipsed the previous record registered by Colegio de San Juan de Letran's Vanessa Sarie, who scored 37 points during the Lady Knights' second round match also against Arellano. The second-year outside hitter's record-breaking performance was built on 37 attacks and one block. Apparently, Garcia was not aware about her performance last Sunday. "Hindi ko in-expect sobra," Garcia told GMA News Online. "Naglaro lang ako nang sobrang saya talaga, ang gaan lang ng feeling." "Gusto ko talaga manalo pero we fell short. Ganun talaga, may next season pa para bumawi." [I really didn't expect it. I just played with joy and the feeling was so light... I really wanted to win but we fell short. But that's the way it goes, we have next season to bounce back.] While Garcia credits her teammates for her explosive performance, the spiker from Batangas said they will just do better next season. "Siguro mas pagbutihan pa namin next season. No expectations pero we'll play well and mas magsama-sama pa kami," she added. [I guess we just have to do better next season. No expectations, but we'll play well and we'll come together.] Before playing for Mapua, Garcia was with the University of the East high school before the pandemic hit. She started training for volleyball in De La Salle Lipa before moving to Manila. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
04-06-2025
- General
- GMA Network
Letran's Vince Himzon played with injured finger in Final Four match vs. Mapua
By JUSTIN KENNETH CARANDANG,GMA Integrated News Not even injury could keep Colegio de San Juan de Letran's Vince Himzon from giving his all in their Final Four match against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Prior to the Knights' semis match against the Blazers, Himzon posted a photo of his finger wrapped with bandage as he was nursing an injury. "Medyo masakit pa po," Himzon told GMA Integrated News after their four-set win against the top-seeded Benilde. [It's still hurts a little.] The injury, however, did not deter him in this game. Himzon had 12 points, the second highest output for the team in terms of scoring following Bembem Bautista's 17 points. It was a good thing that he pushed through despite the pain he was experiencing then. "Nag-chat sa akin [si coach] sabi kumusta 'yung daliri mo? Sabi niya, ire-reserve niya ako sa Linggo. Sabi ko, 'di puwede coach, ilalaban ko na 'to. Nandito na eh," he said. [Coach said to me in a chat, how's your finger? He said he would reserve me for Sunday. I said, we can't, Coach, I'll fight through this. We're already here.] Himzon then vowed to give their all as they aim to reach the finals and topple the powerhouse from Taft Avenue. "Mas maganda pa po ang igagalaw namin sa Friday, paghahandaan po ulit namin and magtutulong-tulong kami and hahabaan namin ang pasensya namin sa isa't isa kasi doon kami mahina," he added. [We will play even better on Friday, we will prepare and we will help each other. We will have more patience with each other since that's where we're weak.] —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
26-05-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Coach Cariño says Perpetual still adjusting as reign in NCAA men's volleyball ends
By JUSTIN KENNETH CARANDANG,GMA Integrated News Dynasties do end, even in NCAA men's volleyball, as the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA was booted out of Final Four contention on Sunday. The ALTAs' hopes for a five-peat were dashed after they fell short against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in their penultimate game of the Season 100 elimination round. For head coach Macky Cariño, endgame lapses were the cause of the defeat of the Las Piñas crew. "Sa game, medyo lapse lang noong dulo. Medyo bumitaw lang noong dulo kasi sa simula parang kakapain mo muna, then 'yung dulo is very important. Nung dulo namin medyo kinapos lang compared nung first set," Cariño told GMA News Online. [In the game, there were some lapses in the end. We kind of let go near the end. At the start, we were feeling it out, but then the end is very important. Our end, we fell short compared to the first set.] Beyond endgame lapses, however, Cariño said Perpetual is also making adjustments after the loss of former head coach Sammy Acaylar and the graduation of some of its old veteran players. "Wala naman nang pupuntahan pa, wala namang dapat sisihin kasi lahat naman nagtrabaho. This season, parang sobrang bigat kasi sa'min kasi 'yung pinaka-tatay namin (Coach Sammy) namatay, so start pa lang ng season mabigat," Cariño said. "Hinilot namin para umangat ang team, so far kinapos talaga. 'Yung composition ng players namin this year is iba talaga, compared from last year na nandoon powerhouse players namin." [There's nowhere to go, nothing to regret, because everyone put in the work. This season, it was so heavy for us because our father figure passed away, so from the start of the season, it was heavy... We massaged it so that the team could move up but we came up short. The composition of players is different compared to last year where we had our powerhouse players.] One major loss for the team this season is two-time NCAA Most Valuable Player Louie Ramirez. "Ngayon semento pa lang kami, bubuuin pa lang. Hopefully, daanan lang namin sa basic. Balik ulit sa simula, hahanap ng players, kasi kapag may materyales ka talagang magi-improve ang team," Cariño said, adding that teams also improved this season and they are still adjusting to his system as well. [Right now, we are just cement, we will build it from here. Hopefully, what we'll go through is basic. We go back to the start, find players, because when you have the materials, the tea will improve.] Season 99 Finals MVP Jeff Marapoc also echoed Cariño's sentiments. "Para sa akin lang, siguro kulang pa lang talaga kami ngayon. Marami pa kaming pagkukulang na kailangan namin i-work para sa susunod na taon," he said. [For me, we just didn't have enough this year. We are still lacking a lot that we need to work on in the coming years.] Not all is lost, however, as the ALTAs can end the season on a high note when they play San Beda University on Wednesday. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
