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Philippine shares may climb on bargain hunting

REUTERS

PHILIPPINE STOCKS may rise this week as investors hunt for bargains while awaiting more corporate results and global trade developments.

On Friday, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) inched down by 0.02% or 1.33 points to end at 6,465.53, while the broader all shares index rose by 0.02% or 0.93 point to 3,769.37.

Week on week, the PSEi climbed by 0.11% or 7.33 points from its 6,458.20 finish on May 9.

“Local equities made a short trip above 6,500 [last] week post-midterm elections, but succumbed to profit taking late in the week. With the election now in the rearview, the market shifts its focus back to fundamentals,” online brokerage 2TradeAsia.com said in a market note.

“The local market is already on a six-week winning streak, with last week’s rise attributed mainly to the progress between the US and China’s trade relations. To add, the market has gone past and has so far managed to maintain its position above its 200-day exponential moving average. Noticeable, however, are the thinning gains of the market as selling pressure strengthens amid investor caution,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message.

On Friday, US President Donald J. Trump announced that US officials will send letters to countries over the next two to three weeks regarding what they will be paying to conduct business in the US.

The announcement came as the US and China reached a 90-day truce on the trade war. The US will cut tariffs imposed on Chinese imports to 30% from 145% while China will slash duties on US imports to 10% from 125%.

Mr. Tantiangco said with the market still undervalued despite its recent rise, investors may look for bargains this week.

“However, investors are expected to look for catalysts that would compel them to get into the bourse. Investors are still expected to go through first quarter corporate results. Investors are also expected to watch out for developments on the global trade front, with signs of progress on negotiations with the US expected to fuel positive sentiment in the market,” he said.

Mr. Tantiangco placed the PSEi’s support at 6,400 and resistance at 6,600.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in an e-mail that the benchmark index’s immediate minor support is 6,290-6,405 and resistance is at 6,591.94.

For its part, 2TradeAsia.com pegged the PSEi’s immediate support at 6,300 and resistance at 6,650.

“First quarter earnings remain the primary guidepost for midyear positioning: expect margin trends and forward guidance to calibrate exposure, but also sector stories as consumption momentum from the campaign season tapers and public spending reopens post-elections,” it said. “High-quality names showing margin resilience plus strong capital discipline… are still underscored, amid the search for new catalysts in the short-term beyond earnings momentum and residual trade headlines.” — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

US tariffs seen making PHL a target for dumped goods

REUTERS

THE GOVERNMENT needs to be ready to protect and support Philippine industries should the Trump tariffs trigger a wave of dumping by foreign exporters locked out of the US market, a business chamber said.

“We have to boost our manufacturing. If our employees are being laid off, our economy will suffer. We have to promote buying local products,” Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) President Victor Lim told reporters on Friday.

“Because of the US tariffs, a lot of cheap products will be dumped here because (their producers) cannot sell (to the US),” he added.

He said that although dumped goods may lower prices, they could lead to job losses.

“Our inflation rate will go down. But the next problem will be our employment because many will be laid off due to companies shutting down,” he said.

“We have to protect our local industry. If there’s dumping, they have to charge a dumping duty; (otherwise,) those products will be dumped here,” he added.

He said the government should also improve ease of doing business and law and order.

“Actually, we want to promote business. And we have these tax and labor laws, which we have to improve to make doing business easier,” he said, noting that business and fire inspection permits remain difficult to obtain.

“Sometimes the fire department does not want to issue a permit because of the lack of a sprinkler system and fire alarm. With some old structures, you cannot put in a sprinkler system, and in some industries you don’t need the sprinkler system,” he added.

He said that the criminal cases tend to scare businesses away, including members of the FFCCCII.

He also cited the killing of abducted businessmen as a drag on investment.

“We immediately met with the Philippine National Police chief… and we put up a complaint in a newspaper about these kidnapping cases,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Rice traders offering low prices for palay to be tracked by NFA

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it instructed the National Food Authority (NFA) to identify parts of the country where traders are purchasing palay (unmilled rice) from farmers at unusually low prices.

“This will allow the (NFA) to extend its procurement efforts during the next harvest season and prevent unscrupulous traders from exploiting farmers,” the DA said in a statement.

The NFA is seeking to boost its palay procurement for a government program to offer rice to vulnerable segments of society at a subsidized P20 per kilo.

Last week, 32 Kadiwa outlets, which sell produce at below-market rates because of government-supported direct farmer-to-market logistics, began roll offering P20 rice, following a pilot test in the Visayas that began on May 1.

The government intends to sustain the P20 rice program until the end of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s term in June 2028.

The DA said on Sunday the NFA is increasing its fleet of trucks and expanding storage and drying capacity to purchase more rice from farmers, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

It still has over P9.8 billion available for palay procurement this year — suggesting a spending capacity sufficient for 5 million 50-kilo bags of rice.

“The NFA has current inventory equivalent to 8 million bags of rice, with half of that stock bought during the first four months of the year,” the DA said.

It said Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. recently met with NFA’s regional managers and key officials to ensure the rice sold the P20-per-kilo program “meets quality standards.”

“…this subsidized rice program presents an opportunity for the agency to shift the long-standing perception that NFA rice is of poor quality — an opinion still shared by some critics and politicians,” the DA said.

Under the Rice Tariffication Law, the NFA no longer imports rice for its reserves. It is now limited to purchasing palay from farmers only. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Pork retail prices defy price caps in early May

A vendor sells pork products at a market in Pasay City. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

PORK PRICES rose at retail in early May, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), as sellers proved unable to sell the commodity within government price guidelines.

The average retail price of fresh pork shoulder (kasim) rose in the May 1-5 monitoring period to P369.64 per kilo from P365.36 on April 15-17, which the PSA calls the second phase of the month, and P365.19 a month earlier, it said in a report.

Pork prices continued to rise in recent weeks even with a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) in effect. The government lifted the MSRP on May 15 at the request of the pork industry, which claimed that participants in the pork value chain were setting prices too high to allow retailers to comply.

The MSRP had been set at P300 per kilo for a whole slaughtered pig, P350 for kasim and hind leg (pigue) and P380 for pork belly (liempo).

The PSA said the average retail price of regular-milled rice declined to P43.74 per kilo during the first phase of May from P44.44 in the April 15-17 monitoring period. A month earlier, prices averaged P44.92.

The DA has been offering a P29-per-kilo rice program, which it said helped influence market prices.

The DA is currently offering subsidized P20 rice to vulnerable segments of the population. The subsidy is shared with local government units, with the rice on offer in government-backed outlets known as Kadiwa stores.

The PSA said a kilo of galunggong averaged P215.70 at retail during the first phase of May, against P229.11 in the second phase of April and P219.64 a month earlier. 

It said the average retail price of tomatoes rose to P75.01 per kilo in the first phase of May, from P66.77 in the second phase of April.

“Similarly, this was higher relative to its price level in the first phase of April at P65.67 per kilogram,” it said.

It said native garlic averaged P178.79 per kilo at retail during the first phase of May.

Native garlic had averaged P190.97 per kilo in the second phase of April and P179.07 in the first phase of April.

The PSA said the average retail price of calamansi rose to P100.72 per kilo in the first phase of May, from P97.43 per kilo in the second phase of April and P92.53 per kilo a month earlier.

Cooking oil posted an average retail price of P176.83 per liter in the first phase of May, from P175.08 in the second phase of April and P174.00 a month earlier. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

GOCC subsidies rise nearly 55% in March

EMBASSY OF JAPAN HANDOUT PHOTO

SUBSIDIES extended to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) rose 54.69% in March, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

The BTr reported that budgetary support to GOCCs increased to P10.63 billion in March from P6.87 billion a year earlier.

Month on month, GOCC subsidies rose 40.35% from P7.57 billion in February.

State-owned firms receive monthly subsidies from the National Government to support their daily operations if their revenue is insufficient.

In March, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) received the most subsidies at P3.79 billion, accounting for 35.69% of the total.

This was the second time NIA received subsidies this year, after the P3.16 billion granted in February.

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) received P2.25 billion, followed by the National Housing Authority with P1.35 billion.

GOCCs that were provided at least P400 million in subsidies included the National Power Corp. (P649 million), the Philippine National Railways (P583 million), the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (P433 million) and the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (P400 million).

Receiving at least P100 million were the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (P227 million), the Philippine Heart Center (P184 million), the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (P124 million), and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (P114 million).

Receiving P74 million was the Light Rail Transit Authority. Additionally, P70 million went to the Philippine Coconut Authority, P63 million to the Small Business Corp., P59 million to the Lung Center of the Philippines, P58 million to the National Dairy Authority, P38 million to the Philippine Rice Research Institute and P30 million to the Development Academy of the Philippines.

The rest of the recipients were the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (P24 million), the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (P20 million), the Sugar Regulatory Administration (P19 million), the People’s Television Network, Inc. (P18 million), the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (P14 million), the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (P10 million), the Southern Philippines Development Authority (P7 million), the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (P8 million), the Philippine Tax Academy (P5 million), the Philippine Center for Economic Development (P5 million) and the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority (P4 million).

The National Food Authority (NFA), the Bases Conversion Development Authority, and the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority received no subsidies for the month.

In the first three months of the year, GOCC subsidies rose 15.33% year on year to P22.59 billion.

The NIA was the top recipient in the quarter with P8.03 billion in subsidies, followed by the NFA and PCIC, both with P2.25 billion. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Debt service bill falls nearly 35% in first 2 months

BW FILE PHOTO

THE external debt service bill fell 34.9% in the first two months following a sharp decline in principal payments, the central bank said, citing preliminary data.

Debt service on external borrowing was $1.59 billion in the period, against $2.44 billion a year earlier.

Amortization payments fell 67.6% year on year to $383 million.

Interest payments dropped 4.2% to $1.21 billion.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the slump in debt servicing was due to the lower amount of matured external debt that needed to be repaid compared to a year earlier.

“This could have also been a function of lower amounts of foreign debt in the NG total borrowing mix in recent years (to minimize) foreign exchange risk involved in foreign borrowing,” he added.

Between this year and 2027, the National Government (NG) plans to source at least 80% of its borrowing from domestic sources. The government previously had a 75:25 borrowing mix.

The Treasury reported that NG gross borrowing fell 7.15% to P192.45 billion in March, with gross external debt declining 31.9% to P34.65 billion.

The debt service bill represents principal and interest payments after rescheduling, according to the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

This includes principal and interest payments on fixed medium- and long-term credits including International Monetary Fund credits, loans covered by the Paris Club and commercial banks’ rescheduling, and New Money Facilities.

It also covers interest payments on fixed and revolving short-term liabilities of banks and nonbanks.

The debt service data exclude prepayments on future years’ maturities of foreign loans and principal payments on fixed and revolving short-term liabilities of banks and nonbanks.

Outstanding external debt rose 9.8% to $137.63 billion in 2024.

This brought the external debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio to 29.8% at the end of 2024 from 28.7% at end-2023.

At the end of 2024, the external debt service burden as a share of GDP was 3.7%, up from 3.4% at the end of 2023.

The BSP’s external debt data cover borrowings of Philippine residents from nonresident creditors, regardless of sector, maturity, creditor type, debt instruments or currency denomination. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

CITEM bats for budget parity with tourism promotion agency

CITEM

THE Department of Trade and Industry’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) said it is seeking additional funding next year to expand its export promotion activities.

“We are now working on a bigger budget for export promotion, for industry development, and also for capacity building for our micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs),” CITEM Executive Director Leah P. Ocampo told reporters last week.

She said the goal is to achieve funding parity with the Department of Tourism’s promotion arm.

“Right now, we have less than P300 million … (and we need) at least the equivalent of that of our tourism counterpart’s budget. I think they have (around) P1.5 billion. There has to be a review of the budget allocations,” she said.

“We have to be very serious in promoting our exports or to at least develop our industries for export. We have to have a bigger budget,” she added.

She said that CITEM has been advocating for greater priority for export promotion in light of looming trade disruptions.

“Export promotion is not being given enough attention. We actually understand that because the government has other priorities than exports,” she said.

“I think even President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. realized that, and that’s also the reason why he actually came up with an executive order (EO) strengthening CITEM as an export promotions agency. I think that’s a big move,” she added.

EO 75 was signed on Nov. 22. It reorganized the CITEM Governing Board, which now comprises department secretaries, the Government Service Insurance System, and representatives from the Office of the President and the private sector.

“I have been really pushing for a bigger budget for CITEM. And I think with EO 75, we are getting the attention that we need, and the Department of Budget and Management is very sympathetic to us, so I am hopeful that we will get a bigger budget next year,” Ms. Ocampo said. 

For this year, she said that CITEM will be participating in five events in China, Europe, and Italy. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Frasco likens impact of proposed ASEAN visa to Schengen scheme

REUTERS

TOURISM Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina G. Frasco said she hopes that a proposed ASEAN visa will encourage multiple-destination stops by visitors to the region, similar to travelers in Europe holding Schengen visas.

“The ASEAN tagline is ‘A destination for every dream.’ And the ASEAN visa certainly is part of that dream,” Ms. Frasco said in a statement sent over the weekend.

She hopes the scheme will “unify ASEAN as a destination in terms of the strength of its natural assets, its unparalleled warmth and hospitality,” she added.

She said that the proposal is similar to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) visa for the Middle East and the Schengen visa for Europe.

“As a Minister of Tourism, it is a proposition that I have tried to make at every opportunity. I am glad to hear similar interest from our fellow ASEAN nations, and we are very hopeful that the subject matter will again come up as the Philippines hosts ASEAN in 2026,” she added.

She said that Southeast Asian countries can collaborate while maintaining “healthy competition.”

“Competition is always very healthy, but collaboration is healthier in a sense that ASEAN coming together… would really benefit all of our countries,” she said.

“We are grateful for our existing collaborations with countries such as Thailand with whom we have recently signed an implementation program for our Memorandum of Cooperation on tourism,” she added.

However, she noted a decline in Chinese visitor arrivals to the Philippines.

“The lesson that we learned from that is to really be able to diversify our dependency into other markets as well,” she said.

“And so now, we are targeting markets such as the Middle East and the GCC, as well as India. And of course, to further strengthen our source markets from South Korea, Japan, the United States, as well as Europe,” she added.

These efforts, she said, resulted in a 500-800% growth in tourism arrivals from the Middle East and the GCC.

The Philippines welcomed 2.1 million visitors in the first four months, down 0.82% from a year earlier.

South Korea accounted for a 22.25% market share, down 18% year on year.

The other top source markets in the first four months were the US, Japan, Australia, and Canada.

“Tourism from South Korea has been declining as the economy faces the challenges from the global tariff uncertainty, which combined with a weak South Korean won to mean (travelers preferred) Japan due to the weaker yen, making the destination attractive,” Mastercard Economics Institute said in an e-mail.

To address this, it said that the Philippines could host more sports or music events to attract more tourists.

“Having more major sporting or music events can be a good way to attract more tourists. Being featured in TV shows may also be a good way to attract tourists, as we saw with The Glory, which attracted strong growth of visitors from Japan to Korea,” it added.

Mastercard Chief Economist for Asia-Pacific David Mann said the Philippines could also look at how it can further improve the visiting experience for tourists.

“I think the key thing for sure comes down to how other people’s experiences were when they visited and how they were reporting back — that word of mouth, the sharing on social media … really makes a very big difference,” he said.

“The more positive stories that really gain a life of their own, the stronger the inflows, the stronger they can even become later,” he added.

He noted, however, that improving the ease of getting through the border and adding more direct flights will not happen overnight.

“A lot of the infrastructure, hard and soft, needs to be built out as well. But I think the confidence people have and the passion that they have to want to go for a particular draw … seem to be one of those extra things that can really make a very big difference,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Aboitiz Construction sees 93% of Labor Day applicants as hireable

ABOITIZCONSTRUCTIONINC.COM

ABOITIZ Construction, Inc., the construction arm of the Aboitiz Group, said about 93% of the job applicants at its Labor Day recruitment activity are currently being evaluated for potential placement in its projects nationwide. 

The recruitment drive was conducted in 13 key locations, the company said in a statement.

It received about 844 individual applications for various roles, including scaffolders, masons, mechanical technicians, civil engineers, and safety inspectors.

“We affirm our commitment to building a highly capable workforce that supports both our projects and the communities where we operate,” according to Raizza L. Manuel, senior assistant vice-president for people and corporate shared services at Aboitiz Construction.

The company held recruitment activities in Tarlac City, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Mariveles, Bataan; and San Jose and Rosario, Batangas;

Tiwi, Albay; Iloilo City; Cebu City; Robinsons in Butuan City; Cagayan de Oro City; Iligan City; and Davao City. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Navigating an AI-enabled business landscape

IN BRIEF:

• Boards can establish trust in AI by creating guiding principles, ensuring regulatory compliance, and staying updated on new regulations.

• Encouraging innovation, ensuring data quality, and rethinking business models can help boards drive value creation through AI.

• Boards can enhance their effectiveness by developing AI expertise and increasing diversity within the boardroom.

Artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and challenges for organizations. While there is pressure to adopt AI quickly to stay competitive, risks and capability gaps can hinder swift action.

This article explores how boards can confidently guide their organizations through the AI landscape, focusing on building confidence, creating value, and augmenting human potential.

THE AI DILEMMA
AI’s breakthrough capabilities have generated significant excitement and investment. According to the EY CEO Imperative Survey, driven by concerns of falling behind, 99% of CEOs are investing in generative AI through initiatives such as establishing an AI task force with a direct line to the C-Suite, determining which data will create a competitive advantage through AI, and investing in capabilities to augment third-party AI with proprietary data. Meanwhile, 70% believe immediate action is necessary to prevent competitors from gaining a strategic edge. Despite this urgency, organizations face challenges such as legal and cybersecurity risks as well as difficulties in sourcing top tech talent.

Boards play a crucial role in navigating these challenges, balancing legal and regulatory compliance with strategic and technological innovation. This dual responsibility can create conflicting priorities, making it essential for boards to find a way to manage both effectively.

On the other hand, many investors remain motivated by the desire to deliver short-term returns. Some investors may not push for change if they believe they are sufficiently diversified at a portfolio level. This leads to a focus on maximizing value through current business models rather than transitioning to new, sustainable ones.

ESTABLISHING TRUST IN AI
Confidence in AI is essential for its adoption and risk mitigation. Boards can achieve this by developing a principles-based approach to AI governance, developing guidelines for the organization based on ethical principles, focusing on key values such as fairness, transparency, and human-centeredness, ensuring compliance with existing regulations, and proactively preparing for emerging regulations.

For example, a South Korean electronics company implemented an actionable guide to practice the AI Ethics Principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability, and established an AI Ethics Council to operate its own inspection process.

Boards should ask management whether the organization has a transparent and well-communicated responsible AI framework, how it was developed, and what principles it prioritizes. They should also ensure that the framework is integrated into the firm’s risk management program and assess its effectiveness across the organization. Guardrails should be in place to identify when the framework is not applied as intended. It is therefore also crucial that companies provide clear guidelines on responsible AI use.

DRIVING VALUE THROUGH AI
Creating value with AI requires a culture of innovation and learning. Organizations must empower innovators to experiment and employees to use AI safely with appropriate boundaries. Data readiness is critical, as clean and well-governed data improves the accuracy and reliability of AI models.

Boards should encourage management to develop and deploy AI across the enterprise and within the wider ecosystem of partners. They should identify metrics to pinpoint the biggest value creation opportunities with AI and understand how AI might impact organizational culture and employee work. Additionally, boards should ensure that data is prepared for AI use and address barriers to AI adoption. This can be supported by sustained training in actual AI usage and how it can directly impact day-to-day work.

For example, employees from a bank in Singapore used data analytics and AI to enhance the bank’s value to customers and increase its competitive edge, with cross-functional teams comprising data scientists, AI experts, technologists, and business leads working together to provide services such as personalized recommendations and nudges to customers, suggesting investment products, predictive analytics for financial forecasting, and managing credit risks for SMEs. An Australian telecom company also uses AI and machine learning to understand its customers’ needs better by processing a broad range of information such as usage patterns, network performance and demographics data.

AI has the potential to transform business processes and models fundamentally. While initial use cases may focus on improving efficiency, the bigger opportunity lies in rethinking processes and models from the ground up in an AI-first way, such as by using AI as an ideation partner to help promote critical thinking. This transformation can lead to significant value creation by reshaping talent and work across the organization.

ENHANCING BOARDROOM CAPABILITIES WITH AI
AI’s potential to augment human potential within the boardroom is an area that requires more exploration. Boards need to understand and develop expertise in AI to oversee and use it effectively, such as using AI to provide both insights and forecasts on key performance indicators they prioritize for their organizations. Deep dives into AI topics can help board members get up to speed.

A growth mindset is essential for board members to embrace AI. They have to continuously seek personal growth, education, and development. Boards should also assess their composition to ensure they have the necessary diverse skill sets to oversee AI. Locally, corporate governance topics typically now include AI, which is a positive indication of its significance gaining traction for the board.

Moreover, AI can be used to enhance board decision-making processes. For example, AI could help analyze risks and provide insights on their progress towards meeting annual strategic goals based on the metrics they manage such as revenue or sustainability targets, becoming part of the board’s decision-making toolkit. By embracing AI, boards can drive diversity in thinking and improve their oversight capabilities.

C-LEVEL CONSIDERATIONS
Boards should focus on how AI can fundamentally disrupt their business model and imagine designing their business from the ground up in an AI-first way. They should ensure the board is equipped to provide guidance on responsible AI use principles, such as fairness, accuracy, reliability, explainability, and transparency. This may include embedding AI within their governance processes in IT to ensure the AI tools are regularly monitored for appropriate outputs and recalibrated based on new data.

Engaging management in aligning AI opportunities across the organization and ensuring the organizational culture supports AI integration is crucial. Integration can be more apparent by being deliberate in articulating how AI forms part of its annual strategic objectives. Boards should also recognize if employees are as AI-ready as the organization’s data.

LEADING WITH CONFIDENCE
AI will be a critical growth driver in the years ahead, reshaping talent within organizations and disrupting business and operating models. Operating models can adopt an AI-first strategy, where they use these technologies to proactively offer products and services, improve safety through autonomous vehicles, or predict machine or health problems in the manufacturing and health industries respectively. Achieving this potential will require organizations to mitigate AI’s risks and build confidence in its use. Boards play a vital role in guiding organizations through these transitions by expanding their competencies and boosting diversity.

By focusing on resilience, consumer outcomes, and timely remediation of weaknesses, organizations can navigate the regulatory landscape effectively and build a foundation for long-term success. Ultimately, boards that balance innovation with risk management will help their organizations navigate the AI landscape confidently and effectively.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Lee Carlo B. Abadia is a technology consulting principal of SGV & Co.

Blueprint for success developed by NU, a model for Philippine men’s volleyball

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS — FACEBOOK.COM/WEARETHEUAAP

THERE’S more to it than just building a kingdom for the National University (NU) Bulldogs in the Philippine collegiate scene.

NU has won five straight and seven overall titles in the past 10 seasons but for coach Dante Alinsunurin, the ultimate goal lies outside the UAAP as the Bulldogs look to expand the success blueprint over to the entire Philippine men’s volleyball landscape.

“Its not only for NU, its for  Philippines also,” said Mr. Alinsunurin as NU became the first team to complete a five-peat in the UAAP Final Four era with a 2-1 series win over Far Eastern University (FEU) in Season 87.

The Bulldogs’ rise to the throne wasn’t handed to them on a silver platter — this season alone and since their humble roots.

NU went unbeaten in the finals for its four straight championships before folding to the top-ranked FEU in Game 1 then winning the last two games capped by a 25-16, 28-26, 25-23 sweep in the decider.

But even before that, the Bulldogs started as a nobody in the UAAP, winning no titles in the first 74 seasons — until Mr. Alinsunurin, a product of Adamson University, turned the program around in Season 75 (2013) for their first-ever title, ironically against then — champion FEU.

The rest was history as NU lorded over the UAAP volleyball across all divisions with its women’s team also ushering in a dynasty under the watch of his fellow Adamson standout Sherwin Meneses and led by the three-time MVP and greatest Lady Bulldog ever in Bella Belen.

From there, Mr. Alinsunurin architected the NU dynasty that produced a bevy of national team and overseas players including Alas Pilipinas captain Bryan Bagunas, who both led the country to a historic silver-medal finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games at home.

Season 87 Finals MVP Leo Aringo Jr., as revealed by Mr. Alinsunurin, is also bound overseas albeit with a year left in his eligibility for a larger goal than helping NU extend its dynasty in the UAAP that only proved the school’s commitment to the entire Philippine volleyball more than its own sake.

For the seasoned mentor, that’s the ultimate culmination of the NU dream and he’s hoping that the UAAP Season 87 witnessed by 14,517 fans in Game 3 for the largest crowd in men’s volleyball history is just the beginning. — John Bryan Ulanday

LPU edges EAC in five sets

Games on Tuesday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
8 a.m. -— San Beda vs JRU (M)
11 a.m. — San Beda vs JRU (W)
2:30 p.m. — Mapua vs SSC-R (W)
5 p.m. — Mapua vs SSC-R (M)

LYCEUM of the Philippines University (LPU) came alive in the last three sets as it edged Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC), 15-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-13, on Sunday to rekindle its dimming Final Four hope in NCAA Season 100 women’s volleyball at the EAC Gym.

Johna Dolorita did almost everything as she fired a team-high 17 points including 14 on spikes while presiding over the defense with 15 receptions and 12 digs as the Lady Pirates injected some life into their diminishing semifinal campaign with a 7-8 record.

But for LPU to gatecrash into the semis, it would need to get its stars aligned and sweep its remaining three elimination round outings against San Sebastian College-Recoletos on Friday, Arellano University May 28 and reigning three-peat champion College of St. Benilde.

And this win was a great start.

“We just try to point out where we will score best in the last three sets,” said LPU assistant coach Ciarnelle Wanta, who handled the reins in the absence of head coach Cromwell Garcia.

Ashley Muchillas and Joan Doguna likewise came through and chipped in 13 and 12 hits, respectively, while pint-sized but big-hearted skipper Venice Puzon facilitated the team’s attack with 19 excellent sets.

The Lady Generals sputtered to a 4-11 card. — Joey Villar

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