Latest news with #LadyKnights
GMA Network
21-06-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Cha Cuñada finds new fulfillment in deputy role for Letran Lady Knights
NCAA By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News Known for her calm demeanor on the court as a player, Cha Cuñada now brings that same steady presence to the Colegio de San Juan de Letran women's volleyball coaching staff in the NCAA. The 25-year-old former outside spiker admitted she was never the vocal leader back in her playing years and hat's exactly what she is using now in guiding the next generation of the Lady Knights. "Mostly po talaga, [ang trabaho ko sa team ay] para lang nila akong ate. Parang ako kumbaga 'yung taga-balance sa team kasi syempre si coach 'pag nagagalit, so parang sa akin sila nagra-rant or humihingi ng advice," Cuñada told GMA News Online. "Pero at the same time, sa skills din kasi naging player din naman ako kaya tumulong-tulong din ako pagdating sa drill. Pinagkakatiwalaan din naman ako ni Coach O (Oliver Almadro) and 'yung mga players alam ko naman na nakikinig din naman sila sa akin." As a silent operator, Cuñada made sure her game did the talking. The 5-foot-5 hitter suited up for both the indoor and beach volleyball teams for Letran from Season 94 to Season 98, a stretch that saw her leading the Lady Knights to a beach volleyball crown in Season 98 and bagging the MVP plum in the process. She has now transitioned to coaching, helping Letran head coach Oliver Almadro full-time since Season 99 as they look to lead the rebirth of the Lady Knights. Cuñada admitted that transitioning from player to coach wasn't easy, especially since many of the players on the current roster were once her teammates, making it tricky to strike the right balance in her new role. "At first, mahirap kasi maraming players dito 'yung naabutan pa akong maglaro, sina Lara, si Nathalie [Estreller], si Juday [Nitura]. So parang ang hirap, hindi ko alam kung paano 'yung magiging approach ko sa kanila," Cuñada, who previously had stints with Chery Tiggo and Cignal, added. "Pero na-realize ko na hindi naman lahat kailangan idaan sa taas ng boses, nakikinig naman sila kahit 'pag kinakausap ko lang nang maayos." —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
GMA Network
09-06-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Zam Nolasco says Benilde's Game 1 win fueled by Round 1 loss that snapped their 43-game streak
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde stepped into Game 1 of NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball finals on Sunday not just chasing another title, but also redemption. The Lady Blazers were pitted against Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which was the same team that snapped their dynastic 43-game winning streak dating back to the pandemic-hit Season 95 in 2020. The Lady Knights stunned them during their Round 1 meeting, pulling off a 25-22, 25-23, 26-24 shock sweep last March 8. The Taft crew made sure it wouldn't happen again, especially with a bigger prize at stake this time. Benilde, though, had to endure a first set hiccup before taking down the Lady Knights with a 26-28, 26-24, 25-16, 25-19 victory to move a win away from its fourth title in a row. "Nu'ng first round, may dalawang losses kami and 'yung isa doon sa Letran. Pinilit talaga namin na hindi na sila makakaisa pa ulit sa amin and makabawi," Zam Nolasco, who starred in that four-set romp, told GMA News Online. "Nakikita naman sa game namin na maganda naman 'yung nilalaro namin." [In the first round, we had two losses and one of those was to Letran. We tried hard not to let them get another over us and to bounce back... You can see it in our game, we are playing well.] Benilde had already avenged that loss when they secured a 25-18, 25-19, 17-25, 25-18 win over Letran in their Round 2 rematch where, incidentally, Nolasco also led the charge with 17 points built on 11 attacks and six blocks. In Game 1 of the championship round, the third-year middle blocker was also in command after dropping a team-high 21 points built on 12 attacks, eight blocks, and one ace. While momentum is clearly on their side, the 6-foot tower stressed that the team is focused on leaving the past behind—including the last three championships—as they aim to close out Letran and complete a rare four-peat on Wednesday. "Sinasabi sa amin na 'yung championship last season, 'yung mga nakaraan ay sa seniors na namin 'yun e," she added. "Kumbaga, ngayong season na 'to kukunin na namin and ayun 'yung magiging sa amin. Doon lang kami nagfo-focus." [We're told that the championship last season, that's for our seniors... This season, we want to win this and this is for us. That's what we're focused on.] —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Judiel Nitura moved by sister Shaina's surprise visit as Letran clinches finals ticket
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News Judiel Nitura had every reason to celebrate Colegio de San Juan de Letran's sweep victory over Arellano University on Tuesday in the NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball Final Four. For one, it sent the Lady Knights back to the finals, earning a shot at redemption opposite four-peat seeking De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the same team that defeated them in last year's finals. But what made the victory sweeter was the surprise presence of her sister Shaina, who watched a game this season for the first time, and it coincided with one of Judiel's finest performances this year. Judiel appreciated the gesture, sharing she understands Shaina's hectic schedule, which includes her role with Adamson University in the UAAP and the Alas Pilipinas national team. READ MORE | Alas Pilipinas Women's team for 2025 international tournaments "Kasi ngayon lang pumunta si Shaina, first time niyang manood. Syempre na-touch din ako kasi nakahanap siya ng time para manood sa akin," Judiel told GMA News Online. "Busy lang talaga kasi 'yung bata sa training tapos may Alas pa siya. Na-miss ko rin siya. Last na kita namin siguro mga one or two months ago na kasi busy din po kami kasi twice-a-day 'yung training namin." [This was Shaina's first time to watch. Of course, I was touched that she found the time to watch me... She is so busy with training and she also has Alas. I've missed her. Last I saw her was one or two monhts ago because we've also been busy with twice-a-day training.] Judiel, who admitted she didn't know her younger sister would be watching the match, led Letran to a 30-28, 25-12, 25-21 win over the Lady Chiefs to book the last finals ticket. She poured in a team-high 17 points anchored on 15 attacks and two blocks, steering the Lady Knights to a second consecutive championship appearance. "Hindi ko alam na nanood siya. After the game ko lang nalaman kaya na-touch ako, naiyak ako. Si Mama lang 'yung alam ko na manonood," Judiel added. "Nagkakasagasa din kasi 'yung schedule namin kaya hirap na hirap din siyang humanap ng time. Ako nanonood sa game nila." [I didn't know she was going to watch. I only found out after the game which is why I was touched. I cried. I only knew that Mama was going to watch... Our schedules have conflicted so she it has been tough on her to find time. I've been the one watching her games.] But Judiel knows the work doesn't stop here as they now shift into higher gear ahead of another finals showdown with the Lady Blazers starting on Sunday. "Stay focused and 'yung mindset namin dapat sobrang taas ng tingin sa sarili namin. Dapat lagi lang din kaming makinig sa mga coaches para alam namin 'yung mga galaw." [Stay focused and we need to have the mindset that we think highly of ourselves. And we always have to listen to our coaches so we know our moves.] —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
02-06-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Letran eyes return to NCAA women's finals; Mapua makes rare Final Four appearance in men's volleyball
Colegio de San Juan de Letran is eyeing another stint in the NCAA women's volleyball finals when it takes on no. 3 seed Arellano University, while Mapua University is making a rare Final Four appearance in men's play as it faces Arellano's men's team. The twice-to-beat Lady Knights will battle the Lady Chiefs for the second finals ticket on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. but prior to that, no. 2 seed Cardinals will battle the Chiefs at 11 a.m. at the Filoil Centre in San Juan. Letran finished the elimination round at no. 2 with a 15-3 record and won back-to-back to finish the second round. For head coach Oliver Almadro, however, they will just focus on the game and prepare without thinking of their advantage. "We have to be ready going into the semifinals. We thank the Lord for giving us the opportunity to be in the Final Four for two years in a row and we always pray to God na bigyan ulit kami ng chance makapasok sa championship and His will will be done sa championship," Letran head coach "We have to think of that game lang first. We have to think that there's no advantage or disadvantage. We have to prepare and dumating sa game na ready kami." The Lady Knights have plenty in their arsenal as they eye their second consecutive finals appearance. Rookie Vanessa Sarie, the league's top scorer, has been making waves in the NCAA as she broke the NCAA scoring record when she exploded for 37 points in their game against Arellano. Following Sarie in the scoring list for this season is Judiel Nitura, who is also the league's best server. Gia Maquilang, meanwhile, has found her groove and was the league's top spiker at the end of the elimination round, while veteran libero Lara Mae Silva has topped the digging and receiving categories. Arellano, meanwhile, has been pushing teams to the limits. The Lady Chiefs won against fellow Final Four team Mapua University in the second round and Letran in the first round. Arellano is also in a three-game winning streak where it defeated Perpetual, EAC, and LPU. At the end of the elimination round, Arellano finished with a 12-6 card to claim the third spot. "Siyempre, masaya kami dahil 'yong target namin [ngayong] season is nakuha namin. So sabi ko nga last time, 'yong makapasok muna kami sa Final Four, nakuha naman tapos saka kami na i-ta-target sa susunod," Arellano head coach Obet Javier said. Arellano will have to rely on this season's third leading scorer in Laika Tudlasan, Marianne Padillon, and Sam Tiratira, as they Lady Chiefs hope to repeat what they did in the first round, and eventually force a do-or-die against the Lady Knights. In the men's division, meanwhile, Mapua and Arellano will battle for a slot in the finals. The Cardinals, led by Barbie San Andres and Arjay Ramos, capped the elimination round at second place with a 14-4 card, but have suffered back-to-back losses before the Final Four. This season's top 1 and 3 scorers, San Andres and Ramos, are marked men coming into the Final Four but will be backed by the likes of Olsen Jamisola and setter Juancho Barba. Mapua has also been shaky lately as they absorbed all their losses in the second round after completing a first round sweep. The Cardinals also suffered their first loss this season against Arellano. They are, however, motivated as they made their first Final Four appearance at least since Season 91 in 2015. Arellano, meanwhile, ended the prelims on a four-game streak to finish third with a 13-5 win-loss card. Carl Berdal and AC Guinto lead the crop of scorers which also includes Penny Curamen, and Jiwen Sinuto. Adrian Villados, the league's top setter, will also join the Chiefs as they look to spoil Mapua's party. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
