Technical age in Volleyball

Now a days, if a volleyball team is scouting or doing statistics, it is either the coaches have a a clipboard with papers clipped to it, or on the tech age, coaches bring their Ipads and use technology together with their video camera to do the scouting and statistics, but treat Coach Moro Branislav differently.

When Coach Moro transferred from Foton to Cocolife early this year, there were lots of changes in the system of the Asset Managers such as players, how they play and there is no clipboards or ipads on the bench. Yes, you got that right. Coach Moro hired a Professional Statistician to get the analytics and information needed every game.

The system is a radio earphone is placed on Coach Moro and the statistician will radio him the info he needs. Also through that radio, Coach Moro can tell the technician to check the play so that they can check on it after the game and splice it in practice.

Truly, With the dawn of this new technology Cocolife has, for sure its just a matter of time that they reach their goal, a final 4 finish the least.

PSL All-Filipino Cup Game Preview: Match #8 Petron Blaze Spikers (1-0) vs Generika-Ayala Lifesavers (0-1)

Two teams with talent and strength on the wings will do battle as Petron Blaze Spikers go head to head against the Generika-Ayala Lifesavers in the Main Game of the PSL All-Filipino Cup At November 6 over at the Fil-oil San Juan Arena.

The Blaze Spikers won their first game last October 30 against a hapless Cocolife during that time. Coach Shaq Delos Santos rotated his players well led by Aiza Pontillas and Ces Molina but the X-Factor of that game was Rhea Dimaculangan outsetting the whole Asset Managers during that game, 28-22 in favor of Dmac herself which made the difference in that game. As for Generika, they were coming off a 5-set loss to Foton Blue Energy last Saturday where in costly errors cost them the game but the positive of that game came in the form of Fiola Ceballos. Ceballos scored 21 points in that match and was supported by Beach Villeyball partner Patty Orendain and Skipper Angeli Araneta with a combine 29 points showing that this Lifesavers team has all the talents to get them over the hump and with Coach Sherwin Meneses on the sidelines, for sure this talent-laden squad will gel and perform well on the court.

PLAYERS MATCH-UP

Two of the best leaders on and off the court do battle in what can say is “The Captains Battle”. Neta, her teammates call her, has shown a leadership quality that bonded this team together for a long time and it shows inside and outside the court. Her qualities show the desire of this team to finally get over the hump and reach the semis even the finals but to get through that, she needs to battle another Kapitana. Ces Molinan has been the captain of the Blaze Spikers since last year. Even though she has been plagued by various injuries, she has proven once 100%, she is something special. A battle of this two spikers will definitely be special and interesting.

Da Who

 

A big volleyball superstar is on its way back to the rival league. She cannot join the team yet as she needs to finish the tournament she is playing at but rest assure this team that she will join is a surprise team. For this team that she will join, they are following the mantra Trust the Process, as they have been adding players one by one to get the system of their head coach and for sure when she joins this team, she and the other spiker will be giving headaches to the other coaches. For the team she will leave, it leaves a big hole in their system as she is the main option for this team. She also is one of three remaining remnants from their last championship that is going to be interesting for this team.

Clue:

- She is a MVP

- An open spiker

PSL All-Filipino Cup Game Preview: Match #7 F2 Logistics Cargo Movers (1-0) vs Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors (0-1)

One team showing their true strength their last game is eyeing another win as the other wants to get its act together from the last game as the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers go up against Sta.Lucia Lady Realtors at the Fil-oil San Juan Arena tomorrow, November 6, 2018 at 4:15 pm.

F2 Logistics came from a straight sets win against Cignal HD Spikers last Tuesday wherein we saw the 7 players that were sent in score except for Kim Fajardo showing their true strength, their cohessiones. With 3 players scoring in double figures, for sure Coach Ramil will still use the same line-up with Cha Cruz-Behag, Aby Maraño and Kim Kianna Dy but one thing that Coach RDJ will use is its height. F2 has a towering wall that can be used with players such as Majoy Baron and Aduke Ogunsanya upfront, for sure Sta. Lucia will have a tough battle up ahead. For the Lady Realtors, finally they got Jhoana Maraguinot, but which Maraguinot will show up, the high-flying former lady eagle or the Maraguinot that we saw last week against Smart. Also in a game that they did not score a service ace, hopefully they get their acts together. Also they need to minimize their errors as they got a total of 75 Errors as Coach George Pascua is hoping that MJ Philips, which did not play against Smart due to injury, can get to play already and help out Pam Lastimosa, Micmic Laborte and Becca Rivera for them to get win number 1.

 PLAYERS MATCH-UP

Cha Cruz-Behag is already showing that her moniker is not just a moniker, she has proven to be everything F2 has asked her to be. She is their top scorer in their game against Cignal with 12 points and a match-up with Lastimosa will definitely be exciting. Pam Lastimosa top scored the Lady Realtors with 8 points and she will need a lot of help to match-up well against the Cargo Movers.

PSL All Filipino Cup Game Preview: Match #6 Foton Tornadoes Blue Energy (1-0) vs Cignal HD Spikers (1-1)

Two teams targeting to get its second win battle it out as the Foton Tornadoes Blue Energy battle it out with the Cignal HD Spikers over at the Fil-oil San Juan Arena tomorrow 2 PM.

The Blue Energy, still missing the services of both Santiago Sisters, came off a 5-set win against the Generika Ayala Lifesavers last Saturday. They were led by Carmina Aganon and Maika Ortiz who scored a combine 32 points and was supported by former UE Lady Warrior Shaya Adorador, Gen Casugod and new addition Arriane Layug in a match that showed how they really missed Jaja and Dindin Santiago, both of whom are playing in Japan. Aganon proved to be the most valuable of them all as she showed new coach Aaron Velez that she can be a player the Blue Energy can go to.

For the HD Spikers, it was a game that everyone can say was a thriller. Cignal lost the first set but won the next two sets and leading the fourth set 19-13 against Cocolife, but the complacency showed as they lost the set and we all know what happend in the last set. Mylene Paat continues to be the beaming light for Cignal with her average of 14.5 points, while Skipper Rachel Anne Daquis continues her steaddy play with an average of 12 points per match as both her and Paat will be the players to go to for Cignal HD.

PLAYERS MATCH-UP

Both players have showed that they are competitive in rolling on the floor, literally. Jen Reyes, played her hearts out in their win against Generika registering 31 excellent digs without any replacement for the duration of the 5-set match which proves how much she is as a libero. But not to be disregarded is  the pocket sized libero herself, Jheck Dionela. Dionela has registered  superb numbers during the last 2 games 24 digs and 13 excellent receptions proving that she can still mop the floor as well as any liberos here in the PSL.

A Crazy Finish to A Great Game

When a game is as frantic as last Saturday’s Cignal HD Spikers vs Cocolife Asset Managers, one has got to wonder, what really happend that made Coach Moro and the Asset Managers, according to reports, put the game on protest. Here are my insights.

As the 5th set was as intense as the first 4 sets, some calls were made that made Cocolife very frustrated. Lets look as some calls.

With the Asset Managers in the lead 6-2, Cignal’s Roslyn Doria hit the ball and was blocked by Cocolife’s Arriana Angustia but a call by the referee stating Angustia made a net touch thus giving the score to Cignal that made Coach Moro furious causing him getting a yellow card. But replays show a different call that makes sense for Coach Moro. Take a look.

As you can see Doria’s right hand clearly hit the net first thus making contact to Angustia’s hand. In that case making a net touch violation call on Doria and not on Angustia, but the call stands, Cignal getting the point. Next play is a very crtitical call that can be called either way, here is the play.

Angustia is on the service line making a servea and ending on the outside and was called an OUT in favor of Cignal but a different shot made a case that Cocolife is complaining about, here it is.

You be the judge of the call. In or out??? Another play where the Asset Managers’ Assistant Coach Josh Ylaya was assesed a yellow card. Gyra Barroga, Cocolife’s Open Spiker, hit the ball to the net and hit the blocker from Cignal Acy Masangkay thus falling outside, score for the Asset Managers on an out but Rachel Ann Daquis, HD Spikers Skipper, made a case that it should not have been Out
called on Cignal but an Out called on Cocolife as it did not hit Acy. Lets take a look.

Clearly Barroga hit the ball through the net but whats making a confusion to everyone isndid Masangkay hit the ball going out? And is it right for a 1st referee to change the call even if he is sure of his initial call? Clearly it happend infront of the referee thus making him have clear vision of what transpired. It clearly created chaos on the game as It ended with a 17-15 final score. According to reports, Marge Tejada, Cocolife’s Team Captain did not sign the score sheet thus putting the game on protest.

Most of the players from both teams aired their sentiments of the game. Denden Lazaro posted this after the game.

With those critical calls, fans are clamoring for the challenge system to be brought back to further strengthen the sport and for the referees realize the calls that can make them grow as an official. But for now let us wait as we await the word from PSL Comissioner Doc Ian Laurel on the reported protest by Cocolife. In PSL’s term, “Iba ang Laro Dito”, ibang iba ang laro dito.

A Battle of Two Quiet Winners

Last Saturdays PSL Game between the Foton Tornadoes Blue Energy and the Generika Ayala Life Savers was such a fun to watch. With both teams wanting to show that they are up to the task win the All-Filipino Title, two players showed that they have the heart and beauty to become the best in this sport. Let us look at the battle of Carmina "Silent Operator" Aganon of Foton and Fiola Ceballos of Generika.

Carmina Aganon (Left) and Fiola Ceballos (Right)

Aganon, known to many as Mina, played for National University during her early years in the UAAP with Dindin Santiago, Jen Reyes, Desiree Dadang and later Jaja Santiago as they formed a formidable team that won championships in the defunct Shakey's V-League but one trophy is missing out in her resume, the UAAP, where in she was not able to win one during her stint there. When she ended her UAAP Career, she went on to play for several teams in the commercial level. She played for Army and Kia at the Shakey's V-League and Petron in the PSL where-in she won championships including the 14-game sweep of the 2015 All-Filipino Cup.

Mina also played for the National Team on different occasions proving she is not just a chinita princess on the court, she is also a hard hitter. She transferred to Foton last year to join her fellow NU Alumnus Ivy Perez, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Jaja Santiago and Jen Reyes to form a very strong nucleus but as the games pass by, she was used sparingly. But when the All-Filipino Cup came, Foton certainly needed a new leader to help out Maika Ortiz with both Jaja and Dindin playing in Japan, that is where "Sanchai", a nickname used by the legendary Noel Zarate bestowed to her, stepped up. Against Generika, she scored 20 points, 11 on attacks, 4 on blocks, and 5 on aces. Who needs the the Santiago Sisters, right?? Nope, Aganon spoke on what their expectations are especially that both Santiago Sisters are not around.

"Sa team and sa akin, wala naman expectations kasi bagong team na naman, rebuilding na naman kami. Naglaro lang kami ng dapat naming laruin, na kahit may pressure at kinakabahan, na kahit ngayon lang nababad ulit, ang maganda, maayos ang nilaro at naipanalo namin." She also stated, "We are not loaded, compare sa ibang teams, loaded na sila. Compare sa amin, ako, Layug, Gen (Casugod), di kami ganung kagamit compare sa iba. Mahirap sa amin na after ilang years na di nagamit mahirap ibalik ang dating nilalaro pero dahil sa tulong ng coaches at teammates namin, nagkaroon kami ng kumpiyansa." On the way she played during that game, she stated, "nababalance kasi sa teammates and coaches, malaki ang tiwala nila sa akin, sa amin, na alam nila na may magagawa sila para sa team.". She also remembered one thing to end our interview, "After ilang years, ngayon lang ako naka-20 points ulit, last 20 points ko was college pa ata, di ko din maalala kung naka 20 points ba ako sa Petron." For sure Aganon will prove a lot in her next games.

Fiola Ceballos took a different route to success, if Aganon is more on the indoor, Ceballos made her name on the beach courts. She started her volleyball career as a partner to none other than Jovelyn Gonzaga over in Iloilo for Central Philippines University and won numerous championships as she also played for pride and country as she and Jovelyn played in numerous International tournaments. When Gonzaga joined the Philippine Army, Ceballos stayed in Iloilo to hone her skills and when she was done in playing collegiate volleyball, she was brought in by Foton for the All-Filipino Conference and Beach Volleyball tournament in 2015. She also played during the early stages of the Queen's of the sands, now known as the Beach Volleyball Republic. After her stint with Foton, she suddenly was gone from the volleyball picture but come 2017, Generika came calling and grabbed the opportunity to play once again in the PSL. Ceballos played her best game to late as she finished with 21 points in the five-set loss to Foton but a lot of heads were turned as they were surprised of how this lady from Iloilo played. 

A lot have changed in both the careers of these two ladies, but with their dedication to the game, their energy on the court and most especially never-say-die attitude, for sure their uprising to volleyball stardom will be quiet, but respectful. Both are winners, QUIET WINNERS

Ces Molina: The SMOOTH OPERATOR

The PSL All-filipino Cup is on its way and with the tournament shaping up to be a tight race to the top, let me give you a brief get-to-know of some of the PSL Superstars that brings beauty, grace and power over to the hardcourt.

First let us get to know the former San Beda Lady Spiker turned Petron Kapitana. The Smooth Operator, Frances Xinia Molina.

Molina when she was chosen to be part of the Magnificent 7

Ces Molina played for San Beda in the NCAA from season 86 to 89 as an middle blocker with former San Beda Spiker Janine Marciano and was adjudged Best middle blocker twice.

Her first stint in the PSL was during the 2014 PSL Grand Prix and during the 2015 All Filipino Conference, that is where she won 2nd best open spiker and that is where her career arose. She was also a regular for the national team as her biggest break came when she was part of the magnificent 7 for the 2016 FIVB World Championships held here in Manila. Due to an unfortunate injury, she was not able to play for the national team for the 2017 Asian Games but with her dedication for sure she can show a lot in future international tournaments.

Ces Molina with Petron

Molina is now the team captain for the Blaze Spikers and with the way she is showing, she is not slowing down and her ultimate target is to get another championship for Petron.

Ces Molina during her stint in the 2016 FIVB World Championships

As smooth as she is on the court, she is also smooth off the court being a great daughter to her ever supporting mother that goes out of her way during international tournaments just to watch Ces play. She is the only rose in out her three siblings that is why her brothers are super protective of her. 

Ces Molina with her Mother, Araceli Harding and her two siblings

Molina will definitely be proud of everything that has happen to her volleyball career and we all know it will not end there as she will continue to be as smooth as silk in all her hits. A lioness before, a SMOOTH OPERATOR today.