USJ-R, CPU top Shakey’s GLV

MANILA, Philippines - University of San Jose-Recoletos and Central Philippine University hacked out a pair of five-set victories to rule their respective regional elims in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League Season 11 recently.

The USJ-R spikers recovered from a fourth-set setback and dominated the decider to repulse the St. Theresa’s College side, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 19-25, 15-8, and top the Central Visayas qualifier in Cebu City.

Over in Iloilo, the CPU tossers rallied from a 1-2 set deficit and swept the last two frames, including the fifth to turn back St. John’s Institute, 23-25, 25-15, 16-25, 25-21, 15-10, and capture the Western Visayas leg crown of the event sponsored by Shakey’s and organized by Metro Sports.

Leyte National High School also advanced to the Tournament of Champions set next year as it toppled New Ormoc City National High School to nail the Eastern Visayas leg plum in Tacloban City.

Earlier, Angeles University Foundation toppled Holy Angel University in five to rule the Central Luzon leg in Angeles City.

A total of 80 high school teams from the National Capital Region and other regions in the country are vying for slots in the T-of-C slated Jan. 13-17, 2004 which will also feature two foreign teams in Australia and New Zealand squads. The visiting squads will be headed by coach Tomas Santamaria of the Australian Volleyball Association, according to the Metro Sports president Freddie Infante.

The keenly awaited NCR elims will be held Oct. 27-Nov. 10 in Manila while three more regional qualifiers are slated next month, including the Mindanao stage on Nov. 14-17 in Davao, the Northern Luzon leg on Nov. 21-24 in Baguio and the Southern Luzon elims on Nov. 27-30 in Imus City, Cavite, according to tournament director Johanz Buenvenida of Metro Sports.

The league, backed by Mikasa, Asics and Tune Hotel, serves as the feeder league to the Shakey’s V-League as part of the world’s leading pizza parlor’s long-term commitment to boost the sport and produce top-class players.