Bella Belen of National University (NU) and Kennedy Batas of Ateneo de Manila University 
VOLLEY

Belen, Batas top first-round volleyball performers

DT

Bella Belen of National University (NU) and Kennedy Batas of Ateneo de Manila University emerged as the statistical points (SP) leaders in their respective divisions at the conclusion of the opening round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 volleyball tournaments.

Belen, the UAAP Season 84 and Season 86 Most Valuable Player (MVP), amassed 159.600 SPs to emerge as the top performer in the women’s division.

The 5-foot-8 opposite spiker, now in her senior year, ranked seventh in the league with 107 points. She also placed eighth in spiking efficiency at 33.47 percent, first in aces with 0.63 per set, sixth in digs at 2.60 per set, and fifth in receiving with a 33.58 percent efficiency rate.

Meanwhile, Batas, a third-year spiker out of Santiago, Isabela, tallied 160.370 SPs to lead the men’s division. He ranked first in points with 142, fourth in spiking efficiency at 45.52 percent, fourth in aces with 0.37 per set, and eighth in digging with 1.44 per set.

In the race for Best Outside Spiker, Belen also leads with 303 positional points (PPs), followed by Angel Canino of De La Salle University with 267 PPs, Shaina Nitura of Adamson University with 252 PPs, Vange Alinsug of NU with 240 PPs, and Angge Poyos of University of Santo Tomas (UST) with 217 PPs.

La Salle’s Shevana Laput is second in the SP rankings with 157.692 SPs, followed by Nitura with 145.556 SPs, Canino with 141.538 SPs, and Alinsug with 130.000 SPs. Rounding out the top 10 are Alyssa Solomon with 126.000 SPs, Poyos with 120.345 SPs, UST’s Regina Jurado with 113.103 SPs, NU’s Shaira Jardio with 106.400 SPs, and Camilla Lamina with 101.600 SPs.

In the Best Middle Blocker race, La Salle’s Lilay Del Castillo leads with 181 PPs, closely followed by Ateneo’s AC Miner with 171. Completing the top five are UE’s Riza Nogales (160), La Salle’s Amie Provido (158), and Ateneo’s Yvana Sulit (139).

Laput also leads the Best Opposite Spiker rankings with 274 PPs, with Solomon (214) and Jurado (185) rounding out the top three.

Far Eastern University’s (FEU) Tin Ubaldo leads the competitive Best Setter race with 192 PPs, followed by Season 84 Best Setter Lamina (173) and UST’s Season 86 Best Setter Cassie Carballo (164).

Meanwhile, Jardio leads the Best Libero standings with 205 PPs. Adamson’s Juris Manuel (197) and UST’s two-time Best Libero Detdet Pepito (189) complete the top three.

In the men’s division, UST rookie JJ Macam is second in the SP rankings with 148.750, followed by FEU’s Mikko Espartero (147.917), La Salle’s Noel Kampton (145.000), and UST’s Popoy Colinares (140.833).