Italian coach in huddles with members of the Alas Pilipinas.

ITALIAN Angiolino Frigoni will be debuting as Alas Pilipinas men’s head coach in the first leg of SEA V. League beginning August 16 to 18 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Alas Pilipinas will first meet Vietnam on Friday opener at 6 pm after the game between Indonesia and Thailand at 3 pm. The Philippines is set to meet Indonesia the next day at the same time and venue before concluding the first leg with a match against Thailand at 6 pm.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), headed by President Ramon Tats Suzara expects Alas Pilipinas men’s team to showcase quality competitions among fellow Southeast Asian nations in the single round-robin three-day tournament.

“Playing against quality teams in Southeast Asia is a great test for our Philippine men’s team with new men’s coach Angiolino Frigoni,” Suzara said, noting that Frigoni and Alas Pilipinas will start their buildup for the nation’s hosting of the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship next year.

“We are excited to see our team compete.”

Bryan Bagunas, Josh Ybañez, Vince Patrick Lorenzo, Jade Lex Disquitado, Kim Malabunga, Noel Kampton, Gabriel Casaña, Ave Joshua Retamar, Rwenzmel Taguibolos, Leo Ordiales, Jenngerard Diao, Lloyd Josafat, Louie Ramirez and Michaelo Buddin are the players of Alas Pilipinas.

The 70-year-old mentor is a two-time Olympian head coach for the Italian women’s team in the 1992 Barcelona and 2000 Sydney games. He was formally named by the PNVF last June after being recommended by the FIVB only last year.

The coaching staff of Frigoni are Dante Alinsunurin, Matteo Antonucci, Odjie Mamon, trainer Dexter Clamor, physiotherapist Yuichi Akaba, and team manager Jerome Guhit.

In other games, Vietnam meets Thailand on Saturday at 3 pm and Indonesia on Sunday at the same time.

The men’s second leg is set in Indonesia, and details will still be announced soon.

St. Benilde in tough match against UP.

College of St. Benilde snapped a two-game losing streak with a commanding 25-13, 25-22, 25-21 victory over the University of the Philippines, putting the Lady Blazers back on course in their title-retention bid in the V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge Sunday morning (August 11) at Paco Arena in Manila.

Wielyn Estoque led the charge with 14 points, including 11 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, while Zamantha Nolasco provided strong support with 11 points, highlighted by eight kills and a game-high three blocks.

Their combined efforts were crucial in the Lady Blazers’ comeback after suffering consecutive losses in this pre-season tournament, which they won last year.

“Marami, marami pa dapat i-improve. Any win is a big boost. Sino man kalaban natin next, we have to be prepared,” said CSB head coach Jerry Yee.

Trailing 8-10 in the third set, CSB rallied to seize a five-point lead at 16-11, eventually securing a straight-set victory. Errors from UP, including a net touch by Kianne Olango and an attack error by Yesha Noceja, contributed to Benilde's sweep of the Fighting Maroons.

“We were experimenting with new players in the rotation and didn’t quite find the right combination in the first few games. Hopefully, this rotation will stick,” added Yee.

The Lady Blazers dominated the attacking department, recording 15 kills to UP's 8 in the opening frame. They also broke a 17-all tie in the second set with a 5-1 run, pulling ahead 22-18 to set the stage for their win.

Middle blocker Kassandra Doering led UP with 12 points on 10 attacks and two blocks, but her efforts weren’t enough to prevent her team from slipping to a 2-2 record.

The Lady Blazers will face the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights on Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. 

Meanwhile, UP will look to bounce back against the University of the East on Aug. 21 at noon at the same venue.

UST wins match over FEU

University of Santo Tomas relied on its offensive prowess to dispose of Far Eastern University in three sets, 25-23, 25-16, 25-13, securing their third straight win in the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge on Sunday afternoon (August 11) at Paco Arena in Manila.

Em Banagua’s defense and the offensive firepower of Angeline Poyos and Regine Jurado were crucial as the Golden Tigresses maintained their clean slate and stayed atop the standings in the pre-season tilt.

“Maganda yung galaw eh, na-minimize namin yung errors namin… Everything was right in place, parang ganoon yung nangyari,” said UST head coach Kungfu Reyes.

Poyos and Jurado poured in 14 and 11 points, respectively, while Banagua tallied eight points built on four blocks, three attacks, and an ace.

Carrying over their momentum from a dominant showing in the second set, the Golden Tigresses led 20-6 in the third set, propelled by four consecutive hits from Kyla Cordora.

After zooming to an 8-0 start in the second set, UST led by as much as 10, 18-8, after an off-the-block attack by Jonna Perdid.

While FEU started to come alive late in the set, a down-the-line hit and an into-the-block attack from reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Angge Poyos propelled the Golden Tigresses to a two-set-to-none lead.

A back-and-forth affair in the opening set went the way of UST thanks to clutch offensive contributions from Jurado and Perdido.

“Nung first set, ang ganda, everybody’s game nung first set. Luckily, kami yung tumama sa dulo kasi nga tumama yung challenge namin, so malaking turn of events ‘yon,” Reyes added.

The Golden Tigresses will take a two-week break before facing the College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers on Aug. 25, 10 a.m., at the same venue,

No Lady Tamaraw scored in double figures, with Gerzel Petallo chipping in eight points and Jean Asis and Jazlyn Ellarina contributing seven points each in the loss.

FEU will look to bounce back against the winless Lyceum of the Philippines University Lady Pirates on Wednesday, Aug. 14.