The National University-backed Dasmarinas City lobbered Marikina, 25-15, 25-11, 25-18, to sweep the first round in the 2025 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) on Thursday night at the Marikina Sports Center.
Myrtle Escanlar stamped her brilliance with 18 points as the Monarchs put on a statement round with a clean 7-0 slate. They also boosted their stature as the new team to beat in the upstart league founded by also MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao.
Jenelyn Jacob and Vange Alinsug contributed 10 and nine points, respectively, for the powerhouse Monarchs squad.
Dasma needed only 79 minutes to bag the win for an emphatic finish to its debut season in the MPVA that included convincing victories over reigning champion Quezon Tangerines in the opener and runner-up Biñan Tatak Gel Arellano Lady Chiefs on Wednesday night.
Mentored by former PVL coach Regine Diego, the Monarchs drubbed the Lady Chiefs, 25-10, 25-17, 25-13, in only 77 minutes of action.
Minierva Maaya and Natasha Kaye Bombita led the way with 11 and 10 points, respectively, to prove Dasma’s well-balanced roster with any player having the capability to take over every game.
Laika Tudlasan had nine for Biñan, which finished third after the round with a 5-2 slate.
Quezon, for its part, also scored back-to-back wins to end the first round with a bang in the MPVA-backed Mikasa, Asics, Spurway Enterprise, Gerflor, Smart Communications and XIV Apparel.
The Tangerines turned back the Pasay Lady Voyagers, 18-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-17, after drubbing Marikina, 25-15, 25-20, 25-10, for a 6-1 record behind Dasma.
Zamantha Nolasco rifled in 17 points while Shahanna Lleses, Shekaina Lleses and Rhea Mae Densing added 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively, against Pasay.
Like Dasma, Quezon boasted its firepower with a different cast pummeling Marikina led by Angellq Castillo with 11 points. Sophia Badion and Francis Mae Flores added 10 points each.
Backed by the four-peat NCAA champion College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers, Quezon’s lone loss came against Dasma in a catch-up mode to its title retention bid in the MPVA organized by the Volleyball Masters of the Philippines.
Florize Anne was the lone double-digit scorer for Pasay, running at fourth at 4-3, with 18 points.
Sheena Chopitea paced Marikina (1-6) in back-to-back losses, scoring 11 and six points against Quezon and Dasma, respectively.
In the other game, the San Juan Lady Knights (2-5) kept the Caloocan AM Spikers (0-7), 25-19, 25-14, 25-17.
Kaycee Balingit spearheaded the Lady Knights at sixth place as Rhea Manalo scored eight for the cellar-dweller Caloocan.
The ICC Negros Blue Hawks sit at fifth spot with a 3-4 record to complete the first round of the country’s regional volleyball league featuring eight cities.
