LIPA, BATANGAS CITY — California Precision Sports put up a lot of great performances against players who they only watched on TV in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League.
None of it, however, will ever come close to the performance they showed at the Aquamarine Recreational Center here on Wednesday afternoon.
Two sets down against 2021 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference third placer Petro Gazz. Then the young spikers from California Academy in Antipolo put up a performance of a lifetime. They turned back the squad bannered by former and current National team stars Ces Molina, Myla Pablo, Ria Meneses, and Grethcel Soltones.
After five grueling sets, the Aquamarine Sports Complex – which has less than ten spectators inside – erupted.
It signaled the sweet end for California Precision Sports, who just took down the Angels via an 18-25, 12-25, 25-22, 25-14, 15-13 reverse sweep victory. They end their PNVF Champions league campaign on a high.
And at the center of it all were the 16-year-old Casiey Dongallo and 17-year-old Jelaica Gajero – both still in senior high school.
Dongallo finished with 22 points off 21 attacks in the emotional win. Meanwhile, Gajero scored seven huge points in the final set – including a crucial dig against Meneses. She also ended up with 22 markers to go along with 19 excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions.
“Yung motivation ko, [iniisip ko] na kaya kong makipagsabayan… Na hindi porket high school ako at pro sila, hindi ko na kayang makipagsabayan sa kanila,” expressed Dongallo right after the match.
“So as I stepped on the court, laging binibigay sa akin ni Kizzie [Madriaga], kailangan kong patayin kasi kailangan kong patunayan na kahit high school ako, kaya kong pumuntos, kaya kong makipaglaban.”
Gajero echoed Dongallo, saying that she’s just trying to perform at her best to keep up in the tournament backed by Smart Sports, PLDT, and Puso Pilipinas which features some of the best volleyball players in the country.
“I’m just trying my best po and then mga professional players po so kailangan po makipagsabayan,” Gajero bared.
California Precision Sports capped off their first-ever major tournament with a 2-3 standing.
And they vowed to come back stronger come the next PNVF Champions League.
