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Jasha Gamao

Sports

BFP Lady Firefighters still undefeated; Abellana blazes trail against Home Masters

March 16, 2026 4:15 PM
PST

MANILA—The BFP Lady Firefighters sustained their winning track record clean in UVL Season 4, clinching their fourth consecutive victory with a gritty 3-1 performance over the NHA Home Masters last March 15 at the Paco Arena. 

After a commanding opening set, BFP weathered a narrow second-set slip to dominate the later frames, finishing with a 25-19, 25-27, 28-26, 25-20 scoreline. 

The victory keeps the Lady Firefighters’ undefeated record intact as they solidify their position as the team to beat in the opening round.

Gang Abellana earned Best Player of the Game honors, serving as the primary offensive engine for BFP. 

Abellana delivered a staggering 22 points, headlined by 20 massive attacks, 1 block, and 1 service ace. 

Her ability to find gaps in the Home Masters’ defense proved crucial during the high-pressure third set, where BFP had to dig deep in an extended 28-26 battle to reclaim the momentum and ultimately extinguish NHA’s hopes of a comeback.

Post-game, BFP Head Coach Efraem Dimaculangan credited the win to the team’s adaptability under pressure. 

“Sa maraming adjustments po lalo sa laro kanina, ang daming off sa first six, so kailangan namin bumalasa ng bumalasa ng player which is naging effective naman sa fourth set.”

"With the many adjustments we made, especially in today's game since several of our starters (first six) were off we really had to keep shuffling the players, which ultimately proved effective in the fourth set." Coach Dimaculangan noted, emphasizing that the team's tactical flexibility was key to overcoming NHA’s resistance. 

Despite the perfect start to the season, the coach remained focused on the long game, stating they will continue to refine their play style every match to sustain the streak until the end of the first round.

“Pagta-trabahuan pa namin kasi hindi madali, ang lalaki ng kalaban, iba yung labanan ngayon. Mas mahirap.”

"We still have to work for it because it isn't easy; the opponents are big, and the level of competition is different now. It's much harder.", Coach Dimaculangan added.

Sports

Coach Espino’s completed puzzle: PhilHealth overpowers PNP behind Reterta’s brilliance

March 16, 2026 4:05 PM
PST

MANILA—The PhilHealth Health Insurers extended their winning streak to four, solidifying their status as a championship contender with a four-set victory over the defending champions, PNP Lady Patrollers, in the UNTV Volleyball League Season 4 yesterday, March 15 at the Paco Arena. 

The match, which felt like a playoff preview, saw the Health Insurers capitalize on a balanced attack and crucial defensive plays to dispatch the Lady Patrollers and stay undefeated. 

After a challenging battle in the first and second sets, PhilHealth surged ahead in the third and secured the win with a convincing final score of 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-18).

PhilHealth's dominance was a testament to a well-oiled machine, spearheaded by the dominant performance of Enen Reterta, who was rightfully named "Best Player of the Game." 

Reterta, showcasing exceptional skills, proved to be a constant force with 7 valuable points, including 6 powerful attacks and an ace. 

She effectively marshaled the PhilHealth offense and defense, consistently making critical plays at key moments. 

The player's precise serves and powerful kills proved too much for the PNP's defense to handle, turning the tide of the game decisively.

“Masasabi po namin na unti-unti na namin nabubuo yung teamwork namin, yung chemistry sa loob ng court po.”

"We can say that we are gradually building our teamwork and our chemistry inside the court." Reterta said in the post-game interview with Ms. Rheena Villamor-Camara highlighting their teamwork and chemistry inside the court to win over PNP.

Following the match, Health Insurers' head coach, Anthony Karl Espino, expressed extreme satisfaction with the victory and the team's upward trajectory, stating that they had finally found the "missing pieces" that make them a complete, championship-caliber team. 

Espino specifically lauded the addition of Tin Miralles and Criselda Rondina to the lineup, emphasizing that their arrival has provided the necessary depth, experience, and leadership needed to compete at the highest level. 

“Yes. Malaking tulong yung dalawa, si Rondina at si Miralles ang laking tulong…Sa ngayon wala na kuntento na ako dito sa team na ito and may tiwala naman ako sa lahat.” 

“Yes. Those two, Rondina and Miralles, have been a huge help. At this point, I’m satisfied with the roster we have and I have full confidence in every one of them.” Coach Espino said in an interview.

The victory against the defending champions is a massive confidence booster and a warning shot to the rest of the league, marking PhilHealth as a force to be reckoned with.

Sports

Lady Smashers secure historic first win; Dairo dominates at Paco Arena

March 13, 2026 4:15 PM
PST

MANILA—The Pag-IBIG Fund Lady Smashers finally broke into the win column of the UNTV Volleyball League Season 4, delivering a clinical performance to sweep the MMDA Lady Spikers last Wednesday, March 11 at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The Lady Smashers displayed newfound chemistry and composure, effectively neutralizing MMDA’s frontline to secure their first victory of the preliminary round. 

The win marks a turning point for the squad after a challenging start to the season, injecting much-needed momentum into their campaign for a playoff spot.

Jasmin Dairo emerged as the undisputed star of the match, earning Best Player of the Game honors for her exceptional efficiency. 

Dairo was a force at the net, providing the offensive spark Pag-IBIG needed with a solid 7-point performance, all coming from clinical attacks. 

Her ability to pierce the MMDA defense during critical rallies of the second set gave the Lady Smashers a decisive edge, proving she is a reliable go-to option for the team's offense moving forward.

In a post-game interview with Ms Rheena Villamor-Camara she associated their win to their coaching staff after exhausting all their strategies to grab their first win.

“Thankful pa rin kami sa mga coach namin ngayon kasi grabeng experiment yung ginagawa nila para lang ma-build yung confidence namin, tiwala ay lakas ng loob.”—Jasmin Dairo said.

With this breakthrough, the Lady Smashers have proven they can compete in the league’s mission of "Sports and Charity." 

While the MMDA Lady Spikers showed flashes of resilience, Pag-IBIG’s superior execution in transition and attacking pressure proved to be the difference-maker. 

As the preliminary round intensifies, all eyes will be on Dairo and her teammates to see if they can turn this inaugural win into a streak as they represent their agency for their chosen beneficiaries.

Sports

Health Insurers prevail five-set thriller; Rica keeps PhilHealth streaking

March 13, 2026 4:30 PM
PST

MANILA—The PhilHealth Health Insurers extended their dominant run in the UNTV Volleyball League Season 4, outlasting the NHA Home Masters in a grueling five-set marathon last March 11, 2026 at the Paco Arena in Manila.

PhilHealth showed immense heart to secure a 3-2 victory (25-15, 25-21, 21-25, 23-25, 15-6), marking their third consecutive win of the preliminaries. 

The match was a defensive grind that pushed both squads to their limits, but PhilHealth’s poise in the final frame allowed them to stay perfect and solidify their spot at the top of the standings.

Rochelle Rica was the driving force behind the Health Insurers' narrow escape, earning Best Player of the Game honors with an explosive offensive display. 

Rica was virtually unstoppable at the net, hammering down a staggering 18 points, all of which came from clinical attacks. 

Her ability to find the floor during high-pressure rallies in the fifth set proved to be the difference, as she repeatedly dismantled the NHA frontline to keep the PhilHealth momentum alive.

With this hard-earned result, PhilHealth continues to be the team to beat as they pursue their mission of "Sports and Charity." While the Home Masters put up a valiant effort to force a decider, the Health Insurers' veteran execution under fire ensured their winning streak remained intact. 

PhilHealth now looks toward their next matchup with high confidence, riding the broad shoulders of Rica as they aim to sweep the preliminary round for their chosen beneficiaries.

Sports

Dominant sweeps: PNP and BFP extend perfect streaks in UVL S4 preliminaries

March 10, 2026 7:49 PM
PST

MANILA—The PNP Lady Patrollers and the BFP Lady Firefighters continued their dominance in the UNTV Volleyball League Season 4 preliminaries, both securing their third consecutive victories last March 8, 2026, at the Paco Arena in Manila. 

The Lady Patrollers dismantled the MMDA Lady Spikers in a convincing 3-0 sweep, maintaining their position at the top of the standings. 

Liezl Paginado earned Best Player of the Game honors for PNP, anchoring the team's offense with a clinical performance that kept the Lady Spikers winless after three outings.

Matching that intensity, the BFP Lady Firefighters doused the DENR Lawin Spikers in another straight-sets demolition (3-0). 

The Firefighters were led by the unstoppable Stephanie Adolfo, who notched her second consecutive Best Player of the Game award. 

Adolfo dominated the net with 13 points built on 11 attacks and 2 blocks, proving to be the league's most consistent offensive threat. 

The win keeps BFP tied with PNP for the best record in the preliminary round at 3-0.

In other tournament action, the COMELEC Suffragettes also secured a 3-0 victory against the DFA Emissaries, climbing to a 2-1 record. 

As the preliminaries heat up, the undefeated runs of PNP and BFP have established them as the teams to beat, while the NHA Home Masters and PhilHealth Health Insurers remain close behind with perfect 2-0 records. 

The league continues to showcase high-level government agency athleticism as teams battle for positioning in the next round.