Sports

NU, La Salle Lipa stay unbeaten in Rebisco Volleyball League

Philstar.com

November 23, 2017 | 6:27am

NU, La Salle Lipa stay unbeaten in Rebisco Volleyball League

MANILA, Philippines — Four teams remain undefeated in the inaugural Rebisco Volleyball League.

Tournament favorites Nazareth School of National University and De La Salle Lipa crushed their respective foes, University of Mindanao Tagum, 25-14 and 25-15; and the University of San Jose Recoletos, 25-18 and 25-12, to go 3-0 in the seven-day competition at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.

NSNU paces Pool A along with surprising Hope Christian High School, which is in rebuilding mode and earned a wild card berth to the tournament. Jerry Yee’s girls defeated Leyte National High School 25-9 and 25-16 to likewise remain undefeated.

Over in Pool B, DLSL and the hometown team, Holy Rosary College likewise tote 3-0 records. HRC dispatched erstwhile undefeated Bacolod Tay Tung High School 16-25, 25-20, 25-20 behind Trisha Mae Genesis’ 21 points.

The top two teams of each of the six-team groups will meet in a crossover semi-finals on Saturday with the winners advancing to the finals on Sunday, November 26.

The University of Mindanao Tagum started the match with an ace and a down the line shot from Shania Verana as the Davao Del Norte squad kept pace with powerhouse Nazareth School of National University, 9-8. Four successive points by Alyssa Solomon, Nicole Magsarile, and Camille Lamina, aided by an unfortunate attack error by UMT’s Sheena Gallentes saw the UAAP Girls’ three-peat champions right their ship and it was smooth sailing from there.

De La Salle Lipa likewise encountered early opposition from the University of San Jose Recoletos. Behind the scoring of Mirgie Bautista and Alleiah Malaluan and the expert setting of Janel Maraguinot, the Green Chevrons stamped their class on their foes.

While the girls admitted to the pressure on them, head coach Ronwald Dimaculangan said they shouldn't be concerned with what they cannot control as they are a young team. "What we can do is play good defense and focus. That will allow us to attack.”

In a battle of erstwhile undefeated squads, the tussle between the hometown team, Holy Rosary College and Bacolod Tay Tung High School proved to be a titanic spectacle. In front of a roaring crowd HRC flipped the script for a huge win.

In the first set, HRC’s normally top floor coverage was in shambles as Tay Tung’s setter, Marianne Sotomil, mixed up their attack with Joan Marie Monares leading the way with three points while Joan Doguna and Shane Carmona both added two each.

HRC’s top gun, Trisha Mae Genesis, was held to one point.

Come the second set, Holy Rosary College head coach Lerma Giron made two changes that altered the outcome of the match. Giron sent in her two guest players from the University of the East — middle blockers Ysabel Jimenez and Kecelyn Galdones.

The effect was immediate and overpowering as HRC jumped to a 10-2 lead. Jimenez and Galdones did a lot of damage from their serves that had normally steady and under control Tay Tung reeling and leaving head coach Evelyn Aguillon no choice but to dig deep into her bench. She sent Sotomil and Carmona to the bench and tried back up setter Rhean Almendralejo and Marixi Maligmat.

Making matters worse for Tay Tung, Genesis found her groove and she pounded the Bacolod squad with 20 points from the last two sets en route to a game high of 21.

After HRC equalized at 25-20, Tay Tung started strong in the third set, 9-4, but after a Galdones quick, the home side led, 12-11, and never looked back.

Said Giron after the match, “We changed our rotation. Kailangan ko ng blocker kasi yung Bacolod may running attack, may quick. And that proved to be the game changer for us because not only are the guest players tall but meron silang depensa at opensa.”

“Is there pressure on us as the home team? Meron. Kaso, yung kabilang team meron din kasi undefeated din sila going into the match. So they too want to win.”