Ateneo edges Iligan, cops Shakey’s Davao crown

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo de Davao fought back from a set down and swept the next three as it bundled out Iligan City National High School, 25-27, 25-20, 25-14, 31-29, to annex the Davao leg crown of the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League at the Davao Doctors College gym recently.

The Ateneans failed to sustain the momentum of their imposing third set triumph but proved steadier than the Iligan spikers in the extended, back-and-forth fourth set battle to clinch the title and a spot in the Tournament of Champions next year.

Ateneo de Davao swept past Tagum City National HS, 25-16, 25-21, in the Final Four while Iligan City NHS survived Davao City NHS, 25-23, 25-21, in the other semis duel of the event sponsored by Shakey’s and organized by Metro Sports headed by president Freddie Infante.

Davao City took second runner-up honors by repulsing Tagum City NHS, 25-23, 17-25, 25-16.

Ateneo thus joined the other regional winners of the event backed by Mikasa, Asics, Tune Hotel, Burlington, BioFresh, Food Health and Science Magazine in the T-of-C slated Jan. 13-17 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

They include University of San Jose-Recoletos, Central Philippine University, Leyte National High School and Angeles University Foundation, which ruled their respective elims the last few weeks.

Hope Christian High School, meanwhile, foiled University of Santo Tomas in three, 25-22, 25-23, 25-18, to keep the National Capital Region leg diadem at the NAS recently.

Meanwhile, the chase for the Northern Luzon leg title is being held in Baguio while the Southern Luzon elims is set Nov. 27-30 in Imus, Cavite.

Two guest foreign teams from Australia and New Zealand will spice up action in the T-of-C, according to tournament director Johanz Buenvenida of Metro Sports.