Tibayan caps N Ecija reign in CLRAA boxing

A Bataan spiker (right) gets a point at the net against
 San Jose del Monte in yesterday’s volleyball hostilities
 in the Central Luzon Athletic Associaton in Iba, Zambales.
 Bataan won the match.

IBA, Zambales, Philippines  – Palarong Pambansa bronze medalist Ariel Tibayan scored a sensational first-round technical knockout win over Jonathan Aguas of Tarlac City to power Nueva Ecija to the overall title in secondary boxing of the 2012 Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) at the Peoples Park here on Thursday.

Bets from Angeles City, meanwhile, scooped six gold medals on the final day of swimming competitions at the Zambales Sports Complex to emerge as the best swimming delegation in terms of gold medals harvested.

After a dominating show in gymnastics, CLRAA defending champion Bulacan flexed its might in elementary taekwondo in nearby Botolan town with five gold medals.

The 15-year-old Tibayan bloodied the nose of Aguas with a solid right straight, forcing the Tarlac bet to quit in the pinweight division.

“I am stronger now because of my rigorous training,” said Tibayan, who ruled the division for the third straight year.

A junior at the Nueva Ecija National High School, Tibayan now trains his sights on the Palarong Pambansa in Pangasinan where he hopes to improve on his third place finish last year.

Regelio Astudillo (light mosquito), Glerence Cuyapen (mosquito) and Verael Angelo dela Cruz (light flyweight) also bagged gold medals as Nueva Ecija extended its reign in secondary boxing to seven years.

Source - The Philippine Star

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Ateneo takes Game 1, ends La Salle's win streak

MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles ended rival De La Salle Lady Spikers' perfect season after a four-set victory in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 74 women's volleyball finals Wednesday afternoon at The Arena in San Juan.

La Salle came into the finals with a thrice-to-beat advantage after a 14-game sweep of the elimination round, but the Lady Eagles outplayed them through four sets, 23-25, 28-26, 25-23 and 25-17.

The Ateneo Lady Eagles react after winning Game 1 against the De La Salle Lady
 Archers in UAAP season 74 womens volleyball finals.

Ateneo’s victory ended their nine-game losing streak to La Salle. It also ended the Lady Spikers’ 25-game winning streak dating back to January 8, 2011 and their 14-game winning streak in Season 74.

"Dahil nanalo kami this game, mabi-build up 'yung confidence namin," said Ateneo’s rookie star Alyssa Valdez after the game.

La Salle showed their championship poise in the first set as they raced to an early lead, while the Lady Eagles seemed nervous while making their first ever Finals appearance.

The Lady Spikers led 23-17 before a late rally by Ateneo, behind team captain Fille Cainglet and veteran Ailysse Nacachi. Attacking errors from La Salle allowed the Lady Eagles to come as close as 23-24, but Michelle Gumabao won the set for the Lady Spikers with a cross-court attack.

Read full story here By Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBNNews.com

Read more: Ateneo takes Game 1, ends La Salle's win streak