By ADRIAN STEWART CO
De La Salle University’s Angel Canino, National University’s (NU) Leo Ordiales, Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Lara Silva, and College of Saint Benilde’s Reymark Betco were recognized as the country’s top collegiate volleyball players during the 2026 Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night at Discovery Suites Manila in Pasig City.
Negrenses Canino and Ordiales were named the UAAP Volleyball Players of the Year after leading their respective schools to Season 88 championships, while Silva and Betco received the NCAA Volleyball Players of the Year honors for their standout performances in Season 101.
The Bacolodnon Canino spearheaded La Salle’s return to the top as the Lady Spikers completed an unbeaten 16-0 campaign and captured their 13th UAAP women’s volleyball title.
She delivered 17 points, nine digs and five excellent receptions in the opening game of the finals before adding 11 points, 10 digs and 10 receptions in the title-clinching victory over National University.
She also helped keep the team on track earlier in the season while finals MVP Shevana Laput was unavailable.
Ordiales once again served as NU’s offensive leader in the men’s finals.
He scored 22 points in the Bulldogs’ five-set Game 1 victory against Far Eastern University and followed it with 24 points in Game 2 to secure finals MVP honors as NU completed its sixth straight UAAP men’s volleyball championship and seventh overall.
The NCAA honorees also played key roles in ending lengthy championship droughts for their schools.
Ilongga Silva anchored Letran’s defense throughout the women’s championship series against Benilde.
The three-time NCAA Best Libero registered 37 digs in the Knights’ five-set Game 1 win, finished with 24 digs and seven receptions in Game 2, then capped the series with 33 digs in the deciding Game 3 as Letran captured its first NCAA women’s volleyball title in 28 years and ninth overall.
Betco powered Benilde to the NCAA men’s crown after averaging strong performances throughout the finals against Mapua.
He produced 26 points and nine digs in Game 1, erupted for 33 points in Benilde’s Game 2 victory, then contributed 17 points and six digs in the Blazers’ straight-set triumph in the winner-take-all match to earn finals MVP honors.
The championship ended Benilde’s nine-year wait for the NCAA men’s volleyball title and marked the program’s second overall crown./ASC, WDJ