Leyte, Angelicum top Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League regional

MANILA, Philippines - Leyte National High School and Angelicum Learning Center hacked out a pair of pulsating four-setters to top their respective regional competitions and earn berths in the national finals of the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League Season 13 recently.

The Leyte NHS spikers swept their elimination round matches, trounced Liceo del Verbo Divino, 25-13, 25-12, in the semis then bucked New Ormoc City NHS in the finals, 20-25, 26-24, 25-22, 26-24, to snare the Eastern Visayas leg of the event put up Shakey’s for the leading private and public school girls’ volley teams.

The Angelicum tossers also dominated their side of the regionals, topping the group stages in emphatic fashion, bounced back from an opening set setback to repulse Quezon NHS, 16-25, 25-16, 25-12, in the Final Four before foiling Iligan City NHS, 20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-18, to rule the Northern Mindanao leg of the tournament backed by Asics, Mikasa, Iloilo Doctors’ College and My Phone.

Leyte and Angelicum thus joined Central Philippine U, University of San Jose-Recoletos and National U, which topped their respective regional elims, in the national finals of the annual event slated Nov. 8-14 at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan City, Laguna.

Meanwhile, the Southern Mindanao leg got under way at the University of Mindanao gym yesterday with top teams in the region clashing for the lone berth in the national finals.

Leyte’s stalwart Allona Caguicia took the MVP plum in the Eastern Visayas leg with teammates Ellis Gan winning the second best middle blocker award, Harriet Corda bagging the second best outside attacker plum and Katrina Maga claiming the best libero honors. Other awardees were New Ormoc City NHS’s Mary Grace Vernaiz (best middle blocker), NOC’s Grace Daisog (best outside attacker), NOC’s Hazel Aparis (best opposite attacker) and NOC’s Rozanne Barloso (best setter).

Angelicum’s Eurika Eslapor, on the other hand, copped the MVP plum in the Northern Mindanao elims with teammates Martina Dacer, Genesa Eslapor and Jonil Delerio snaring the best middle blocker, second best outside attacker and best libero honors. Other awardees were Iligan City NHS’s Dairymple Lingay (second best middle blocker), Quezon NHS’s Baby Love Barbon (best outside attacker), ICN’s Quisha Cabilin (best opposite attacker), ICN’s Marian Omandam (best setter).