MANILA, Philippines — SAN BEDA University is riding on a high this week in the NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball tournament and the Lady Red Spikers have Angel Mae Habacon to thank for it.
The Mendiola-based hitters went on a two-game win streak thanks to Habacon, who won this week’s Collegiate Press Corps’ Player of the Week award presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Habacon powered the Lady Spikers to a 26-28, 26-24, 27-25, 25-20 win over Mapua University with 22 big points and 10 receptions last February 11.
On February 14, she continued to display her dominance, recording a triple-double with 22 points, 15 receptions, and 11 digs in a thrilling 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 15-12 victory over defending champion College of Saint Benilde — the Lady Red Spikers’ first win against Benilde since 2018.
Count coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes as one of her newfound believers.
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“At first, ‘di ko kilala si Angel, ‘di ako masyadong familiar [sa kaniya] so every training, nakikita ko na ‘yong potential niya, malaki,” he said of San Beda’s star spiker.
“She can walk the talk. Gano’n ‘yong character no’ng bata, minsan ako na nagsasabi sa kanya na tama na, pahinga ka muna. Makikita mo ‘yong eagerness niyang matuto. Makikita mo sa mata niya.”
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Thanks to Habacon’s heroics, San Beda is sitting pretty in Group B with a 7-1 record, just behind the top-seeded and undefeated Colegio de San Juan de Letran (7-0).
Habacon zoomed past fellow Lady Red Spiker Janelle Bachar, University of Perpetual Help’s Jem Menor, and Lady Knight Judiel Nitura for the weekly citation supported by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Buffalo Wings N’ Things.
Meanwhile, Klint Mateo from University of Perpetual Help System DALTA bagged the third edition of the CPC POW in NCAA’s men’s volleyball action after steering the Altas to two straight wins this week and improve to 5-2 in Group A.
The setter took charge for the Altas in their 28-26, 16-25, 25-17, 25-23 win against Letran as he had nine points on top of 23 excellent sets last February 10.
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He then did a little bit of everything in Perpetual’s 25-23, 24-26, 25-19, 25-23 win over defending champion Arellano University last February 14 with 14 points, including three blocks, plus 24 out of Perpetual’s 27 excellent sets to match.
Mateo bested Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Ruther Abor, Letran’s Bembem Bautista, San Beda’s Axel Van Book, and Benilde’s Rocky Motol for the weekly plum. TMT
