Tag: challenge

Returning Jema Galanza ready for challenge with Alas Pilipinas

On: By: admin


Alas Pilipinas’ Jema Galanza during a VNL meet and greet at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Jema Galanza embraces the challenge of helping the young guns of Alas Pilipinas as one of the reinforcements ahead of the squad’s campaign in the FIVB Challenger Cup from July 4 to 7 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“Super excited kasi ngayon na lang ulit ako makakabalik for the national team and makaka-experience ulit ng international games,” said Galanza, who played for the Philippine women’s volleyball team in the past two Southeast Asian Games.

Galanza, the reigning PVL Finals MVP of the Creamline Cool Smashers, is delighted to join a new-look national team composed of the AVC Challenge Cup bronze medalist team, led by tournament’s Best Setter and captain Jia De Guzman and Best Opposite Spiker Angel Canino as well as Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure, Fifi Sharma, Thea Gagate, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Cherry Nunag, Dell Palomata, Faith Nisperos, Jennifer Nierva, Arah Panique, Julia Coronel, and Vanie Gandler.

READ: Jia De Guzman ‘grateful’ as Alas Pilipinas adds more firepower

The Creamline star was added with her teammate Tots Carlos and National University tandem Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon to the training pool led by coach Jorge Souza De Brito after missing the Challenge Cup due to the Cool Smashers’ long-awaited Spain trip.

“Marami naman talagang nagbago and super happy na mga bata ‘yung kasama ko kasi nacha-challenge ako at marami rin akong natututunan sa kanila. Masaya rin kasi mas relax din kasi ‘yung mga bata ngayon,” said Galanza.

“Marami na rin naman akong laro sa national team na hindi Creamline ‘yung kasama ko so wala namang bago. Maganda siyang challenge for me na iba ‘yung kasama ko so kailangan ko talagang mag-adjust sa sistema ni coach Jorge.”

The do-it-all spiker is grateful to reunite with longtime teammate De Guzman, who has been leading the charge for Alas. 

READ: NU stars, Jema Galanza join Alas Pilipinas training

“Kaming dalawa, hindi na mahirap sa amin ‘yung adjustment. Alam na namin agad ‘yung mga galawan namin sa loob ng court pero super happy kasi alam ko naman din kung paano siya mag-lead sa Creamline pa lang,” Galanza said. “Hindi naman ako mahihirapan gumalaw kasi alam ko na kung paano si ate Jia mag-lead.”

Galanza is also thankful for the warm support she received during the short Alas Pilipinas men’s and women’s teams meet and greet in the VNL on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“Kahit saan naman tayo maglaro, laging nakasuporta ‘yung mga Filipino fans ng volleyball. I think ganito na talaga kalaki ‘yung volleyball community at tumataas na ‘yung level of competition kaya grabe na rin talaga ‘yung suporta na natatanggap namin,” she said.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Clint Escamis braces for tougher challenge in Season 100

On: By: admin


Mapua Cardinals’ Clint Escamis during the Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Clint Escamis will have to represent Mapua in the NCAA Season 100 without his usual partner-in-crime, Paolo Hernandez.

Before the centennial season of the NCAA, Cardinal sniper Hernandez announced that he would be forgoing his final playing for Mapua, leaving Season 99 MVP Escamis alone in the driver’s seat.

“Before Season 99, he already told me it’s his last playing season,” said Escamis at the 2024 Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night at Discovery Suites in Ortigas on Monday.

READ: NCAA: Clint Escamis, Paolo Hernandez show brotherhood amid finals loss

“I got sad, of course, but that’s his decision. I told him good luck and wished him all the best. There’s pressure and at the same time, it’s an opportunity to rise to the occasion, especially with our loss last year.”

The tandem of Hernandez and Escamis brought the Cardinals to greater heights last year.

After missing out on the Final Four in Season 98, Mapua got the biggest shot in the arm with the resurgence of Hernandez and Escamis; a duo that already materialized during their high school days with the Red Robins.

However, Mapua faltered to San Beda in three games in the Finals, prematurely ending the stellar stint of Escamis and Hernandez together.

READ: NCAA: Mapua’s Clint Escamis wins Rookie of the Year, MVP

Now with a younger core and improved swingmen in tow, Escamis is excited to run it back and hope for a greater outcome with the new Cardinals.

“We can bounce back now especially since we have recruits who underwent residency last year. We also have improving sophomores from last season who didn’t play much last year. They’ll have bigger roles this season and I can count on them.”

Another thing that Escamis is also looking forward to, other than bouncing back, is defending his MVP award.

Escamis won not just the MVP award but also the Rookie of the Year plum for Season 99 after posting norms of 16.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.6 steals per game.

Now with his second season loading, he hopes to achieve the same feat and more.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

“Of course, we can only go up from here. Hopefully I go back-to-back and get my first title this year. That’s the goal.”

Classy SMB core looking forward to next challenge

On: By: admin


San Miguel Beermen center June Mar Fajardo steers his team in Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against Meralco Bolts. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

San Miguel Beer cornerstone June Mar Fajardo spoke with a lot of class in giving credit where credit was truly due on Sunday night.

And so did two others who have been parts of the Beermen’s fearsome team that ruled the PBA Philippine Cup with a veritable iron hand for most of the last decade.

“It’s a pity since we really feel we could win the championship—that we can win this series. But that’s sports for you. We have to take this loss,” he told reporters in Filipino shortly after an electric 80-78 Game 6 loss to Meralco at the Big Dome that crowned the opposing Bolts as the new all-Filipino champions.

“Maybe this is really Meralco’s [time] to become a champion. Let’s applaud those who need applause, and congratulate those who need congratulations. It hurts that we lost, but that’s life. We’ve won several championships before, right? Maybe it’s just Meralco’s turn now.”

Fajardo pointed out that some moments on Sunday night felt like the game was truly meant for the Bolts to take: “How the ball bounced towards them? Perhaps they were destined to claim this championship. Let’s congratulate Meralco because they played a fine game.”

San Miguel stared at holes as big as 17 points in the first half, then managed to forge a deadlock four minutes into the second half. The Beermen played a tighter game in the third period and even managed to tie the game on Fajardo’s tough triple with three ticks left until Chris Newsome put the series to bed with his signature fallaway jumper.

“The better team won,” San Miguel captain Chris Ross said in a separate chat. “[Meralco was] a well-oiled machine, man. It has been fun, man. Each game went down to the wire. There were no blowouts. So let’s give credit to them.

“Even in games where they felt they should’ve won, they came back like nothing happened, and that takes mental toughness,” he added.

Pretournament favorite

San Miguel was expected to extend its dominance in the tournament following an elimination round campaign where they only suffered one loss. Ironically, that defeat came at the hands of the Bolts.

Marcio Lassiter, the Game 2 hero and another one of San Miguel’s battle-hardened veterans, was just as appreciative of their conquerors.

“They deserve it, and at the end of the day, you just can’t win them all,” he said. “But you know, I’m proud of our players. We went to war and that’s what you expect—we give our all.”

Fajardo, Ross and Lassiter account for over a third of San Miguel’s 29 titles in the PBA. They were shooting for their 11th in this finale against a Meralco side that was playing in its first-ever All-Filipino title series.

With that bid over, the trio is now looking forward to the next chance.

“Whenever we lose a conference, it feels like we fell short of our major goal. Sometimes it happens, you can’t win all the time. Sometimes it’s just a test of character how you bounce back when you don’t meet your goal,” said Ross.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

“I’m excited for what’s in store for us, going forward. Hopefully we could make the adjustments and get back on the winning track.” INQ