Beyond The Sidelines

Author: Rochelle Acepcion

  • Arellano Lady Chiefs Ride V-League Run Into NCAA Season 102

    Arellano Lady Chiefs Ride V-League Run Into NCAA Season 102

    The Arellano University Lady Chiefs remain unbeaten in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge, improving to 4-0 and keeping pace with Adamson University at the top of the women’s division. Both teams currently hold perfect records, setting up a crucial meeting between the two unbeaten squads on September 12.

    Lady Chiefs Continue to Roll

    Arellano secured its fourth straight victory after sweeping the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 25-19, 25-16, 25-18, on September 5 at Gameville Central Park.

    The Lady Chiefs controlled the match with a balanced offensive attack, finishing with a 42-26 advantage in attacks. Heart Villaflores led Arellano with 16 points, while Cris Servidad added 11 and Kacelyn Punzalan contributed 14 points on six attacks, five blocks, and three aces.

    The strong start has placed Arellano in a favorable position as the V-League continues. With Adamson also sitting at 4-0, the two teams are set for a battle that could determine who takes control of the standings.

    A Stronger Start for NCAA Season 102?

    Beyond the V-League standings, Arellano’s current run could also become an important confidence boost heading into NCAA Season 102.

    The Lady Chiefs ended NCAA Season 101 with a 6-7 record in Group B before advancing to the quarterfinals, where they faced Benilde. Their campaign ended before the Final Four, leaving the team with another season to build on its experience and address the gaps that kept it from making a deeper postseason run.

    Their unbeaten V-League record now gives Arellano an opportunity to show how much the team has developed since its previous NCAA campaign. The consistency they are showing against collegiate opponents could provide valuable preparation and momentum once NCAA Season 102 begins.

    For now, the Lady Chiefs remain focused on the V-League, where their next challenge comes against fellow unbeaten Adamson on September 12. How far this run takes them could offer an early indication of what Arellano can bring when the next NCAA season arrives.

  • PWU Patriots Make Strong Start With WNCAA 57 Sweep

    PWU Patriots Make Strong Start With WNCAA 57 Sweep

    The Philippine Women’s University (PWU) Patriots secured their first win in WNCAA Season 57 after dominating Miriam College, 3-0, with set scores of 25-7, 25-5, and 25-11.

    PWU wasted no time establishing control, cruising through the opening set with an 18-point advantage. The Patriots continued their strong showing in the second frame, limiting Miriam to just five points before closing out the set, 25-5.

    PWU Takes Control From the Start

    The Patriots carried their momentum into the third set, maintaining their lead and completing the sweep with a 25-11 victory.

    PWU’s consistency throughout all three sets allowed the team to keep Miriam from finding its rhythm. The decisive scorelines reflected the Patriots’ strong execution and teamwork on the court.

    Rotoni Leads Patriots’ Winning Effort

    Frances Anne Rotoni was named Player of the Game for her performance in PWU’s straight-set victory.

    Rotoni played an important role in the Patriots’ dominant showing as PWU secured its first WNCAA Season 57 victory. Her recognition highlighted her contribution to a team effort that saw the Patriots control the match from beginning to end.

    First Win Builds Confidence Moving Forward

    Universities and Colleges Athletic League/facebook.com

    The victory gives PWU an early confidence boost as the Patriots prepare for their succeeding matches in WNCAA Season 57.

    When asked how the first win changes the team’s confidence moving into their next games, Rotoni said,

    “First of all, we honor our first victory to God for giving us the strength and guidance to achieve it. That first win gives us confidence that we belong here and motivates us to keep improving. We had a lot of lapses and mistakes in our first game, so we know there are still many things we need to work on as a team.”

    With their first victory secured in convincing fashion, the Patriots will look to carry the same energy and consistency into their next match.

  • NCAA Season 102 Basketball Coaches Ready for New Season

    NCAA Season 102 Basketball Coaches Ready for New Season

    NCAA Season 102 basketball coaches are putting the finishing touches on their strategies as they prepare for another battle on the hardwood.

    Season 102 Tips Off September 13

    The NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament opens on September 13, 2026, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

    Teams will look to make an early statement. Coaches will also test their rotations, defensive schemes, and offensive plans once the games begin.

    The season will feature another competitive field as teams chase a spot in the later rounds.

    NCAA Season 102 Basketball Coaches Prepare

    Defending champions San Beda University will begin their title defense against the College of Saint Benilde at 2 p.m.

    Colegio de San Juan de Letran will then face the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA at 4 p.m.

    San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta will lead the Red Lions into another title campaign. The team will also deal with several key departures from last season.

    Meanwhile, Benilde coach Charles Tiu will continue to build around reigning NCAA MVP Allen Liwag.

    Juniors Join the Battle

    The Juniors division will also take part in the new season. Young players will compete under the same groupings as their respective Seniors teams.

    The league will keep its three-phase group-stage format. However, the No. 4 team in each group will now receive a twice-to-beat advantage in the play-in round.

    That change could make every game more important as teams fight for better positions.

    Coaches Ready for the Challenge

    As September 13 approaches, coaches must turn their plans into action. New lineups and strategies will face their first major test once the ball goes up.

    For the NCAA Season 102 basketball coaches, preparation will be only the first step. Their ability to adjust during games could decide how far their teams go.

    NCAA Season 102 begins on September 13.

  • Shakey’s Super League Set to Return as 2026 Pre-Season Unity Cup Nears

    Shakey’s Super League Set to Return as 2026 Pre-Season Unity Cup Nears

    The Shakey’s Super League (SSL) is set to return to the collegiate volleyball scene as the 2026 Pre-Season Unity Cup opens on September 25, 2026.

    The tournament will bring together top collegiate teams from the UAAP and NCAA. It will also give teams an early opportunity to test their lineups ahead of the new collegiate season.

    Teams Gear Up for the New Season

    The Pre-Season Unity Cup will serve as a key preparation ground for participating teams. Coaches can evaluate their players and experiment with different combinations.

    For athletes, the tournament provides valuable game experience. It also gives teams a chance to build chemistry before their respective collegiate campaigns begin.

    Campus Tours Build Excitement

    The SSL is also holding campus tours ahead of the tournament. The activities aim to bring the league closer to students and volleyball fans.

    Among the universities included in the tour are San Beda University and Arellano University. The visits are part of the countdown to the September 25 opening.

    The campus activities also give fans a preview of the teams and players they can expect to see in the tournament.

    UST Golden Tigresses Claim SSL National Invitationals Title

    The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses are fresh off their championship run in the early 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals last July, where they defeated the College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers.

    The title-clinching victory came on Sunday, July 26, at the FilOil Centre, adding another championship to the Golden Tigresses’ campaign in collegiate volleyball.

    A New Season Awaits

    With the opening date fast approaching, anticipation continues to build among collegiate volleyball fans.

    The 2026 Pre-Season Unity Cup is expected to feature rising talents, established players, and teams looking to make an early statement.

    As the campus tours continue, teams are also preparing for another competitive season.

    The road to the new collegiate volleyball season begins on September 25 with the return of the Shakey’s Super League.

  • Crown to Defend, Hunger to Prove: CEU and PWU Set for Another WNCAA Showdown

    Crown to Defend, Hunger to Prove: CEU and PWU Set for Another WNCAA Showdown

    The stage is set, the lights are on, and the chase for the crown begins anew as the Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) opens its 57th season under the theme “Rise, Shine, Anywhere.”

    For the volleyball court, however, rising and shining will mean more than simply making an appearance. It will mean proving who deserves to stand at the top.

    At the center of the spotlight are the Centro Escolar University (CEU) Scorpions, the defending champions, and the Philippine Women’s University (PWU) Patriots, last season’s first runners-up. With both teams carrying something to prove, the upcoming campaign could once again turn into a battle between a champion protecting its throne and a challenger hungry to finally claim it.

    CEU Carries the Weight of the Crown

    The Scorpions enter the season with the pressure that comes with being champions. After capturing the title, CEU now faces the difficult task of defending it. Every opponent will be looking to dethrone them, making each match a test of whether the Scorpions can maintain the consistency, composure, and winning mentality that brought them the championship.

    But standing in their way are the Patriots, who know exactly what it feels like to come within reach of the crown.

    PWU Returns With Unfinished Business

    Finishing as the first runner-up last season leaves PWU with unfinished business. A silver finish may have proven that the Patriots belong among the league’s best, but it also leaves them with an even greater reason to push harder this season.

    The question now is whether that hunger can turn into the momentum needed to break CEU’s winning streak.

    For PWU, every match is an opportunity to turn last season’s disappointment into motivation. The Patriots are no longer simply chasing recognition—they are chasing the title that slipped away.

    A Champion Against a Hungry Challenger

    For CEU, meanwhile, the challenge is different. They are no longer the team trying to prove they can win. They are the team everyone wants to beat.

    That makes the battle between the two teams one of the storylines to watch as WNCAA 57 unfolds.

    Can the Scorpions rise once again and defend their crown? Or will the Patriots’ hunger from last season’s runner-up finish finally be enough to stop CEU’s reign?

    With the WNCAA 57 opening under the call to “Rise, Shine, Anywhere,” both teams have the opportunity to make their presence felt. But when the volleyball takes flight, only one can ultimately rise above the rest.

    The crown belongs to CEU—for now.

    The Patriots, however, are coming for it.