I watched the UST vs UE game on TV yesterday and it was total domination by the UST Tigresses.

To be fair, I think that UE was a bit nervous in facing the defending UAAP champions

It is confirmed that Denise Patricia Tan is no longer the starting setter for the UST Tigresses. She has been supplanted by Rea Dimaculangan. Surprisingly, Dimaculangan was very consistent in her setting. And in fact, whenever Tan is inserted into the game to give Dimaculangan a rest, as usually happens in the later part of the set, you can see how much better Dimaculangan’s setting is compared to Tan’s.

One of the things I enjoyed in yesterday’s game was the play of Joanna Marie Torrijos. Now that Aiza Maizo is no longer in the team, Torrijos is the opposite spiker. And Torrijos played very well. Much better than you would expect from her lack of playing time in the Shakey’s V-League.

Joanna still has one of the best serves in women’s volleyball. She is very consistent with it and just had one error in her serve. I love the graceful way set sets up to serve and watching her hit the ball is awesome.

One player which UST missed is Suzanne Roces. Now that she is out, the middle had to be manned by Maice whenever Balse is rotated to the backline. But, Maice was pretty solid. She played good enough.

Also, I finally got to see Kara Benedicto play. She was inserted in the 3rd set to spell Balse in the middle. However, she looked like a cat caught in the headlights. Dina-daga siya. She seemed a bit lost in the game and her reactions was a tad too slow. She seemed overwhelmed by the speed of the game.

It didn’t help that Dimaculangan gave her a short set for her to spike when Benedicto came in. Kara totally mis-timed her jump. And then a free ball came from UE just begging to be spiked back, Kara also missed that. However, she has the height and with a little more seasoning, she should do well.

It was nice to see Maria Angelia Tabaquero, who for my money is the best all-around player in the game right now, trying to help out Kara and giving her encouragement. Angeli is still her superb self, being able to score points no matter how bad the sets to her were or even during scrambles.

And Angeli is still one of the cutest players around, for me. I still see some pick tape on her right shoulder, so she seems to still be injured. I wish that I could massage that out for her (in my dreams!).

It was disappointing though that I didn’t get to see Kara serve. She was pulled out in favor of Balse before she could serve.

As a side note, Kara didn’t seem as cute as her picture during the V-League. Or maybe it’s just me.

Anyway, the one glaring weakness of UST seems to be the Libero position. I couldn’t help but compare their Libero against Mary Jane Pepito, who for my money is the best Libero in women’s volleyball at this time.

As for UE, they made a game of it in the 2nd set but errors, and UST upping their game a little, did them in. The 1st and 3rd sets were just wash-outs by UST.

I also watched the first game between ADMU and DLSU and frankly, I saw nothing that showed that DLSU is a contender this year. Plus, ADMU is clearly a weaker team without Kesinee. Those plus the fact that FEU lost despite Rachel Ann Daquis coming back, well, let us just say that I saw nothing to convince me that UST will not win back to back UAAP championships year.

I just wish that Denise Patricia Tan gets back to form.

Hehehe…..

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i can help you edit the photos, promise!!! i’m a graphic artist

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Regarding the Ateneo and La Salle game…I never expected that it would be a four set game, seeing the way Ateneo was playing. But they kind of lost it towards the end of the second set. Anyway, good job by the archers still. I guess they’re still feeling the after-effects of losing Saet as a setter. Llaguno played very well, IMO.

Karla Bello is really pretty.

On the UST vs UE game, it was bit anticlimactic. I mean, when I saw how UST destroyed Ateneo in their previous game, I had to believe that they’re still the best team…so far. If Adamson could get their game together, good luck to UST. IMO, Serafica is a much better setter than Dimaculangan.

Kathy (forgot her surname…:P) of UE played well, as did Rosale. I’m from UP, and I’m already dreading an impending loss to UE.

P.S. Does anyone remember UST using their libero? I don’t remember them using their libero yet. I guess they think their defense is strong enough.

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Hi.. I checked out your schedules for the volleyall games, and was wondering if AdMU will still paly FEU on the 13th at 8am?? Thanks..

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@Fahfrd:

agree with most of your observations, esp. about joey (joanna) torrijos. as with you, i also hope kara benedicto develops her game and most especially her confidence to play it. i can’t help but feel disappointed seeing her religiously attending their matches only to serve as watergirl. haha. although i acknowledge they do have to start somewhere… still, it would be good for the game and its growing legions of fans to see her play.

more power to collegiate volleyball (we do have to start somewhere. hehe).

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hi!my luvly idol denise,u knw im vry tnkful and vry fyl lucky 2 u!!!!!!!!!,,,u knw im olweiz.,watching ur game ur soO……..vry nice than oders…u knw im fyl sad dat i knw ur 1st lost n vlleyball game vs FEU…’I HOPE U WILL DO UR ALL BEST AND BE A #1 CHAMPION…dis yr.u knw my luvly idol….im jzt a 4rth yr.high school students from……leyte.i hope i will see u and m8 u someday prsonaly…i hope ur team will do much better…….’GOD BLESS!!!U AND TAKE CARE……..i know ur vry strong team…….good luck…….!!!!!!!my lovely denise,,,!!!!!!!!

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elow denise . . hmm your games was very nice!!

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but i think that you must practice harder to be a setter because you need more strategy to goal your spikers. .denise 14

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hi!my luvly idol denise…….u should nt b worried about how u handle ur positiOn n ur team..coz i blieve dat u cn do ol ur bst 4 ur team,and also u cn do it better 2 win!!!i blieve dat itz not ur fault dat u’ve lost ur game with d FEU’tamaraws’..bt olweiz rmember dat ‘game s a game’and n d game, u may lost sme or win sme,d m4tant matter s u do ur best n that game…and nthing 2 b regrEt about…..jzt keEp it hArder…’UST GO!!!Fight..fight…4 it….!!!

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hahahahahaha.. Kasalanan Ko ba yon? hehehe. Sori bout sa face ha. D ko na uulitin yun. Kaw naman Kasi eh . Block ka ng block. haha. papagalitan kasi ako ni coach nes pag d ko yun paluin. Pero sori ha. Masakit pa ba ilong mo? hahahaha

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Cggeeeee. Tumawa ka dyan. Maghintay ka lang. I will avenge myself rachelle.. Nasakin ang huling halakhak.. Wahahahaha. Pero infairnas ha.. Lakas ng spike mo. By d way,,, gising ka pa? ..obvious ba. Awake din ako u knw.. hehe chat2x
nalang tau . Na hack yung YM ko eh. Di naman ako mka regster ngayon.. Bagal ng connection. Ano pala ginagawa mo dito? hahahaha. nag search ka sa name ko no? uuuyyy. Umamin ka na kasi,.Concern cya sakin uuuuyyyy

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Aba Kapal,, San ka kaya nagmana? Di no.. Nag open lang ako dito para idefend ka.. Ayaw mo yun? hahaha kailangan mo daw ng practice pare.. hahahaha.

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Taaaagaaalll naman Dee,..

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