Tag: volleyball

Convicted child rapist gets Dutch volleyball Paris Olympics spot

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FILE–Netherlands’ Steven Van de Velde (L) during the volleyball Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 final match in Brasilia, Brazil, on May 5, 2024. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP)

A Dutch volleyball player convicted in 2016 of raping an underaged girl has controversially been selected to represent the Netherlands in the Olympic beach volleyball competition in Paris.

Steven van de Velde, now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting three counts of rape against a 12-year-old girl, according to British newspaper The Telegraph.

He served part of his sentence in Britain and was then transferred to the Netherlands, where he was eventually released and took up volleyball again in 2017.

“We know Steven’s history,” said Michel Everaert, general director of the Dutch volleyball federation (Nevobo), in a statement.

READ: Ex-NBA player Chase Budinger makes Paris Olympics team in beach volleyball

“He was convicted at the time according to English law and he has served his sentence,” added Everaert.

Nevobo and the Dutch Olympic Committee have consulted experts who have judged there is “zero chance” of Van de Velde reoffending.

The Telegraph cited British judge Francis Sheridan as saying when he sentenced the player: “Your hopes of representing your country now lie as a shattered dream.”

But Everaert said Van de Velde had been “fully reintegrated into the Dutch volleyball community.”

READ: VNL 2024: As Paris Olympics nears, Canada focused on improvement

“He is proving to be an exemplary professional and human being and there has been no reason to doubt him since his return.”

The association also cited the player himself as admitting he had made “the biggest mistake of my then young life”.

“I cannot reverse it, so I will have to bear the consequences,” he was cited as saying.

His selection seems to have been more of a story outside the Netherlands than in the country’s own media.

The AD daily said there had been a “fuss in the foreign media” over Van de Velde.



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“I understand that in the run-up to the biggest sporting event in the world, this can attract the attention of international media,” said the player quoted by his association.

Alyssa Valdez says PH now a ‘volleyball country’

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A general view of the crowd during a game between Team USA and Japan in the VNL 2024 at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Alyssa Valdez believes that the Philippines has become a volleyball country after a successful hosting of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and soldout gate attendance in the local leagues, PVL and UAAP as well as Alas Pilipinas games.

“I think, I’m gonna say it but I think right now, we’re a volleyball country, we’re a volleyball nation,” Valdez told reporters after watching the conclusion of the VNL Manila leg between USA and Japan on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“It’s so nice to see a jampacked arena.”

READ: VNL 2024: Experience makes USA’s Manila stint a ‘great success’

The three-time PVL MVP of Creamline was among the 12,000 fans on the final day of VNL Week 3 and she had a fan-girl moment with USA’s Micah Christenson and Erik Shoji and Japan’s Yuki Ishikawa and Kento Miyaura.

“It’s so nice that they’re all cheering for both USA and Japan. It’s a great scenario and situation inside the MOA Arena,” Valdez said. “We’re just really hoping that the support of the volleyball community here in the Philippines and all over the world will continue.”

Valdez, who also serves as the Spikers’ Turf president, said this kind of international hosting will continue to help Philippine volleyball grow

READ: VNL 2024: USA star Taylor Averill wants to come back, explore PH

She also hopes the VNL will encourage more fans to support the local men’s volleyball league.

“Hopefully, this will help us improve And I hope that this will inspire more fans to watch the Spikers’ Turf and other volleyball games as we support the other teams here in the VNL,” she said.

Valdez will be leading Creamline’s bid to end a six-year Reinforced Conference title drought in July.



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PH women’s basketball, men’s volleyball standouts feted

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Awardees for the 2024 Collegiate Press Corps awards night on Monday. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — History was made as standouts in the women’s basketball and men’s volleyball were recognized for the first time in the 2024 Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night on Monday at the Discovery Suites Manila in Pasig.

Kent Pastrana of the University of Santo Tomas was hailed as the inaugural Collegiate Women’s Basketball Player of the Year to headline a total of 23 awardees alongside Collegiate Men’s Basketball Player of the Year Kevin Quiambao of La Salle.

Pastrana steered the Growling Tigresses to their first title in 17 years, toppling the mighty dynasty of seven-peat champion National U with a thrilling three-game series win to win the UAAP Season 86 finals.

READ: Standout coaches to be feted by Collegiate Press Corps

She was also named the UAAP Player of the Year for team events in the league’s closing ceremony last year before a fitting follow-up recognition from the CPC in the momentous ceremony.

Pastrana also led the breakthrough Women’s Mythical Five with her teammate and UAAP Finals MVP Tantoy Ferrer, FEU’s Josee Kaputu, UP’s Favour Onoh, and Kacey dela Rosa of Ateneo while Quiambao, who lifted La Salle to the UAAP Season 86 title to snap a seven-year drought, bannered the staple Men’s Mythical Five with Rookie-MVP Clint Escamis of Mapua, UP’s Malick Diouf, Lyceum’s Enoch Valdez and Jacob Cortez of San Beda.

“It’s our honor to be given this kind of opportunity in women’s basketball. Thank you for this award at sa walang pag-suporta sa amin,” said Pastrana.

For the first time also, achievers in the men’s volleyball were feted with well-deserved honors led by UAAP Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year Owa Retamar of NU and NCAA Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year Louie Ramirez of Perpetual.

READ: Kevin Quiambao, Kent Pastrana banner collegiate Mythical Teams

Retamar pocketed the UAAP Season 86 Finals MVP and Best Setter while Ramirez captured the NCAA Season 99 MVP plum anew as the both the Bulldogs and the Altas won four straight titles.

“I’m really happy that I was chosen for this men’s volleyball award. I’m glad for men’s volleyball, which is slowly gaining recognition, of course with the help of the media. They’re the ones who helped expand this. I hope this continues for all the youth watching us. I hope we can inspire them,” said Retamar.

NU Bulldogs' star Owa Retamar.

NU Bulldogs’ star Owa Retamar. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

But the night didn’t only belong to the players as mentors from women’s basketball and volleyball also marked history and grand celebration.

Haydee Ong of UST copped the UAAP Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year with Dante Alinsunurin of NU and Sammy Acaylar of Perpetual winning the UAAP Men’s Volleyball and NCAA Men’s Volleyball Coaches of the Year awards, respectively.

NU’s Norman Miguel and Jerry Yee of three-peat champion College of St. Benilde’s were named the UAAP Women’s Volleyball and NCAA Women’s Volleyball Coaches of the Year, respectively.

“It’s the first time in history that you’ve given accolades and inclusivity for women’s basketball. Maraming Salamat po. This award will not be possible without the help of the whole community and ecosystem of UST,” said Ong.

Also in the spotlight of the event were the winners of the staple awards in men’s basketball and women’s volleyball

For the second time, MVP Bella Belen of NU took home the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year while Cloanne Mondonedo of CSB, the first setter MVP in NCAA history, won the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year.



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La Salle champion mentor Topex Robinson was named the UAAP Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year while Yuri Escueta, who engineered San Beda’s NCAA title run, was hailed as the NCAA Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year.