MANILA, Philippines — Immaculada Concepcion College (ICC) is on the verge of a major volleyball milestone after both its women’s and men’s teams secured places in the championship matches of the PGFlex Linoleum-UCAL Season 9 Volleyball Championships.
The Lady Blue Hawks and the Blue Hawks both survived their respective semifinal assignments on Tuesday, November 10, at Paco Arena, keeping alive the school’s ambitious bid for a historic golden double.
But reaching two finals is only half the battle.
ICC now faces two different challenges on Friday, November 13: the women must defend their championship against the University of Batangas, while the men take on top-seeded Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas (LPU-B).
With one team chasing a third consecutive title and the other aiming to finish a breakthrough campaign with a championship, ICC has a chance to make the UCAL Season 9 finals a memorable day for the school.
Lady Blue Hawks Survive CEU in a Five-Set Thriller
The ICC women’s team had to work hard for its place in the final, overcoming a determined Centro Escolar University (CEU) side in a five-set semifinal battle.
The Lady Blue Hawks recovered from a first-set loss to defeat CEU, 20-25, 25-11, 25-17, 21-25, 15-8.
The match showed ICC’s ability to respond under pressure. After taking control in the second and third sets, the Lady Blue Hawks allowed CEU to force a deciding fifth frame.
ICC then regained its composure and pulled away in the final set to secure the victory.
Andrea Caparal led the offensive effort with 22 points, providing the scoring punch that helped the defending champions advance.
The victory also extended the Lady Blue Hawks’ remarkable winning streak to 19 games, dating back to their breakthrough championship run three years ago.
More importantly, it sent ICC to the women’s finals for the third consecutive season.
Can Andrea Caparal Lead ICC to a Three-Peat?
Caparal remains one of the most important players in ICC’s championship campaign.
Her 22-point performance against CEU demonstrated why the Lady Blue Hawks continue to rely on her scoring ability during high-pressure matches.
She has also built a reputation as one of the team’s key offensive weapons. Earlier in the tournament, she delivered 24 points against LPU-B, including 21 attacks, two blocks and an ace, in a straight-set victory.
That performance helped ICC secure an outright semifinal berth and reinforced its status as one of the strongest teams in the women’s competition.
Now, the challenge is even bigger.
ICC is pursuing a third consecutive UCAL women’s volleyball championship, but the University of Batangas Lady Brahmans are determined to prevent another title celebration.
The Lady Brahmans booked their place in the final with a straight-set victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University, winning 25-22, 25-19, 25-23.
Stephanie Almaria contributed 11 points, including seven attacks, three service aces and one block.
The result sets up another championship meeting between ICC and University of Batangas.
For the Lady Blue Hawks, the objective is clear: protect their crown and extend their remarkable winning run.
Men’s Blue Hawks Dethrone University of Batangas
The ICC men’s team also delivered an important semifinal victory, defeating the University of Batangas Brahmans in four sets.
The Blue Hawks recovered after dropping the opening set to win, 21-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-20.
The turning point came in the second set.
After losing the first frame, ICC faced a crucial moment with the match level in intensity. The Blue Hawks managed to take the second set, 26-24, and used that momentum to control the next two frames.
Aaron Devesora led ICC with an outstanding 22-point performance.
His production included 19 attack points, two blocks and one service ace, making him the team’s leading offensive contributor in the semifinal.
The victory was especially significant because ICC eliminated the defending men’s champions from University of Batangas, ending their title defense and earning a place in the championship match.
LPU-B Stands Between ICC and the Men’s Championship
The Blue Hawks will face a difficult opponent in the final: top-seeded LPU-B.
The Pirates secured their first-ever volleyball championship appearance after sweeping Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas, 25-21, 25-22, 25-15.
Although Reed Miciano was limited to 15 points, his timely contributions helped inspire the rest of the team to step up.
LPU-B’s semifinal performance showed that the team is not relying on just one scorer to reach the championship match.
For ICC, that creates a different challenge from the women’s final.
The Blue Hawks must prepare for a team that has already demonstrated its ability to perform under pressure and is entering its first championship appearance with an opportunity to make history of its own.
Devesora’s scoring will be important, but ICC will also need contributions from the rest of its lineup to overcome the top seed.
Two Finals, One School, One Historic Opportunity
ICC’s presence in both championship matches gives the school a rare opportunity to finish the UCAL Season 9 volleyball campaign with two titles.
The women’s team is chasing a three-peat, while the men’s squad is looking to turn its semifinal breakthrough into a championship.
The two campaigns also reflect the school’s continued competitiveness in the tournament.
Earlier in the season, the Lady Blue Hawks completed a seven-game sweep of the women’s elimination round and secured an outright semifinal berth.
Their current 19-game winning streak underlines the consistency that has carried the team through multiple competitions.
The men’s side, meanwhile, had to navigate a competitive field that included University of Batangas and LPU-B. Its semifinal victory over the defending champions has now created an opportunity to compete for the title.
The two teams have reached the final through different paths, but they share the same goal: bring home the championship.
Philippine Volleyball’s Growing Collegiate Competition
The UCAL Season 9 tournament is another example of the competitive opportunities available to collegiate volleyball programs outside the country’s most widely followed leagues.
Strong school programs help develop players, provide athletes with meaningful competition and create pathways toward higher-level volleyball.
The progress of ICC also fits into a wider Philippine volleyball landscape that continues to attract attention through collegiate, club and national-team competitions.
For example, WWC One Media has followed the rise of young men’s volleyball talent in its report on RK Medino’s journey from VNS to National University. His development highlights how competitive club programs can prepare young players for collegiate opportunities.
The growing interest in women’s volleyball is also reflected in the international success of Filipino athletes. WWC One Media previously covered Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons’ dominant opening performance at the 2026 Asian Games, showing how Philippine volleyball continues to attract attention beyond domestic competitions.
Meanwhile, the return of collegiate volleyball competitions remains an important part of the country’s sports calendar. WWC One Media also reported on the return of CESAFI volleyball and the University of Cebu’s title-defense challenge.
These competitions may operate in different leagues, but they share an important role: giving Filipino athletes opportunities to improve, compete and build their reputations.
UCAL Season 9 Volleyball Finals: Schedule and Matchups
Both ICC teams are scheduled to play their championship matches on Friday, November 13, at Paco Arena in Manila.
Women’s championship — 12:00 p.m.
- Immaculada Concepcion College Lady Blue Hawks
- University of Batangas Lady Brahmans
Men’s championship — 2:00 p.m.
- Immaculada Concepcion College Blue Hawks
- Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas Pirates
The Lady Blue Hawks will attempt to complete a three-peat, while the men’s team will try to overcome LPU-B and claim the championship.
Will ICC Complete the Golden Double?
ICC has already achieved something significant by placing both its women’s and men’s teams in the UCAL Season 9 finals.
But the school still needs two more victories to turn that achievement into a golden double.
The Lady Blue Hawks must overcome University of Batangas to preserve their championship reign. The Blue Hawks, meanwhile, face an LPU-B squad looking to win its first volleyball title.
The pressure is now on both teams.
One championship would already make the season memorable. Two would give Immaculada Concepcion College a historic finish.
