Jasha Gamao

CALOOCAN CITY—The BFP Lady Firefighters captured their elusive crown, defeating the PhilHealth Health Insurers in a thrilling four-set Game 3 clash, 25-16, 25-15, 20-25, 25-19, to claim the UNTV Volleyball League (UVL) Season 4 Championship on July 19 at the Caloocan Sports Complex. 

The Lady Firefighters dominated the opening salvos and weathered a late-game resurgence from PhilHealth to decisively close out the match, igniting a roaring celebration on the court.

This monumental victory marks BFP’s very first UVL trophy, completing a classic story of redemption after a heartbreaking finals defeat to PNP Lady Patrollers last season. 

Refusing to let history repeat itself on their second try, the Lady Firefighters held strong to their unwavering belief that they had what it takes to pull off a championship run, turning last year's disappointment into this season's ultimate triumph.

Orchestrating the fiery offense was star setter Euna Gene Piosca, who deservingly took home the Finals MVP honors for her masterclass playmaking. 

Piosca's brilliant distribution, sharp decision-making, and court leadership kept the Health Insurers' defense guessing all night, anchoring the Lady Firefighters through every high-pressure rally of the championship series.

Beyond the prestige, medals, and the championship trophy, the victory delivers a massive impact off the court. 

A grand prize of 1,000,000 pesos was officially granted to BFP's chosen beneficiary, the Bureau of Fire Protection Multi-Purpose Coop, beautifully reinforcing the league's signature mission of combining competitive sports with meaningful charity.

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CALOOCAN CITY—The UNTV Volleyball League (UVL) Season 4 reached a thrilling conclusion as the BFP Lady Firefighters captured the championship title on July 19 at the Caloocan Sports Complex but the performance of PhilHealth Health Insurers cannot be discounted with their stunning silver-medal finish. 

Making a massive leap from their fourth-place standing last season, the Health Insurers proved to be the ultimate turnaround story of the tournament. 

Their relentless drive and dramatic transformation kept fans on the edge of their seats, establishing them as a premier powerhouse in public service sports.

PhilHealth’s phenomenal run this season was supercharged by the explosive addition of key players Criselda Rondina and Christine ‘Tin’ Miralles to the roster. 

This newly fortified lineup bulldozed through the competition, dominant enough to defeat eight teams during the preliminary round. 

Refusing to slow down, they carried that red-hot momentum straight through the grueling semifinals to secure the franchise's historic, first-ever appearance in the UVL Finals.

While they ultimately walked away with the silver medal after an intense championship battle against BFP, PhilHealth won big for their advocacy by taking home a ₱500,000 cash prize for their chosen charity, the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations, Inc. 

We extend our warmest congratulations and deepest gratitude to the PhilHealth Health Insurers for their outstanding participation, fierce competitiveness, and unwavering commitment to charity this season.

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SAN JUAN CITY—Embracing the true spirit of public service and athleticism, the UNTV Volleyball League UVL Season 4 held its highly anticipated awarding ceremony on July 12, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre. 

The event took center stage right before the official commencement of the explosive Game 2 finals showdown between the BFP Lady Firefighters and the PhilHealth Health Insurers. 

Staying true to the league's noble advocacy, all participating government teams received substantial tax-free cash prizes earmarked directly for their chosen charities.

A total of eight non-finalist teams officially took home their hard-earned cash allocations during the pre-game ceremony. 

Across all ten participating agencies—including the grand champion and runner-up who will claim ₱1,000,000 and ₱500,000 respectively, the league is distributing a staggering total prize pool of ₱2,250,000 to serve those in need.

The following breakdown highlights the final rankings, the cash prizes, and the respective beneficiaries chosen by the teams:

3rd Place: PNP | Prize: ₱300,000 | Beneficiary: PARDSS FII (Public Assistance for Rescue, Disaster and Support Services Foundation International, Inc.)

 4th Place: COMELEC | Prize: ₱150,000 | Beneficiary: COMELEC Provident Fund

 5th Place: AFP | Prize: ₱50,000 | Beneficiary: AFP Educational Benefit System Office

 6th Place: NHA | Prize: ₱50,000 | Beneficiary: NHA Provident Fund Association, Inc.

 7th Place: PAG-IBIG | Prize: ₱50,000 | Beneficiary: Pediatric Ward Patients of PGH

 8th Place: DFA | Prize: ₱50,000 | Beneficiary: DFA Ladies Foundation

 9th Place: DENR | Prize: ₱50,000 | Beneficiary: Juansmile Organization Inc.

 10th Place: MMDA | Prize: ₱50,000 | Beneficiary: MMDA Provident Fund

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SAN JUAN CITY—The BFP Lady Firefighters pulled off a stunning upset on July 12, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, burning the PhilHealth Health Insurers in Game 2 of the UVL Season 4 Finals.

Defying the odds, BFP secured a thrilling 3-1 victory (25-16, 19-25, 25-20, 25-16) to tie the series and force a winner-take-all Game 3. 

The electric atmosphere inside the arena reached a fever pitch as roaring, passionate crowds from both sides filled the venue, screaming and cheering at the top of their lungs for every single point.

This explosive victory completely shocked PhilHealth and volleyball fans alike, marking the very first time BFP defeated the powerhouse Health Insurers in the entire duration of Season 4. 

PhilHealth had previously held a dominant edge over the Lady Firefighters all season long. 

However, BFP threw out the old script on Sunday’s game showcasing incredible resilience and teamwork to completely disrupt their rivals' rhythm and secure their most important win of the year.

Orchestrating the brilliant comeback was none other than BFP’s setter, Euna Gene Piosca, who deservingly took home the Best Player of the Game honors. 

Piosca put on a masterclass in playmaking, consistently delivering precise, on-point sets that carved open the tight, formidable defense of PhilHealth. 

Her flawless distribution gave the BFP spikers wide-open lanes to hammer down crucial attacks, keeping the Health Insurers constantly guessing and off-balance.

Reflecting on the monumental victory, a humbled Piosca expressed her immense respect for their opponents while praising her team's unwavering faith. 

“Grabe yung laban! Grabe yung PhilHealth. Super ganda nung laban—hands up ako sa PhilHealth kasi ang galing nila dumipensa, ang galing ng mga play nila…sobrang galing nila," Euna Gene Piosca said during the post-game interview with Ms. Rheena Villamor-Camara

"Siguro, naniwala lang kami sa sistema, naniwala lang kami sa kakampi namin, naniwala lang kami sa itaas, naniwala lang kami sa coaches namin at sa mga sumusuporta sa amin kaya nakaya namin ‘to.” Piosca continued.

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MANILA—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. officially honored tennis sensation Alex Eala on July 13, presenting the 21-year-old trailblazer with a Presidential Citation during a homecoming reception at Malacañang. 

The prestigious award recognizes Eala as the first Filipina to achieve unprecedented success on the international professional tennis circuit, highlighted by her historic Wimbledon campaign. 

During the ceremony, Marcos lauded Eala as a champion who embodies the finest qualities of the Filipino people and continues to inspire the nation through her grit and humility.

Hosted by the President and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, the special homecoming dinner celebrated Eala’s soaring impact on Philippine sports. 

The event brought together her family, dedicated supporters, government officials, and key members of the local sporting community to toast her achievements. 

The gathering served as a proud tribute to the young athlete's relentless climb up the global tennis ranks, spotlighting her role in placing the Philippines firmly on the international court.

An emotional Eala expressed deep gratitude during the reception, declaring, "Lubos kong ipinagmamalaki ang pagiging Pilipino". 

Reflecting on the prestigious recognition, the tennis star shared that the presidential citation validates the grueling, unseen efforts behind her high-profile victories. 

"I feel like all the hard work that I have done, all the hours that aren’t on TV are seen and validated and appreciated," Eala said, cementing her status as an inspiration for the next generation of Filipino athletes.

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