National University Nazareth School and Bacolod Tay Tung High School are headed for a blockbuster winner-take-all championship match after sweeping their respective opponents in the 2025 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup Division 1 semifinals on Friday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
The Lady Bullpups advanced to their first-ever SGVIL gold medal match with a commanding 25-16, 25-15, 25-11 victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC). Meanwhile, the Thunderbolts earned a return trip to the finals after dismantling De La Salle-Lipa in straight sets, 25-20, 25-15, 25-18.
Set to renew their rivalry after a thrilling encounter in the recently concluded Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte, NUNS and Bacolod Tay Tung will clash for the crown in the country’s premier grassroots volleyball tournament, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R&B Milk Tea, on Saturday.
UAAP Season 87 MVP Sam Cantada led the charge for NUNS, exploding for a game-high 20 points to inch her team closer to completing a golden treble, following their title runs in the UAAP and Palarong Pambansa.
Harlyn Serneche chipped in 11 points, while Denesse Daylisan added 10 markers. Setter Rihanna Navarro also made her presence felt with 14 excellent sets and five points of her own. NUNS has now won six straight matches in the tournament—all in straight sets.
Cantada and Serneche each delivered 11 attacks as the Lady Bullpups dominated the Lady Brigadiers in the spiking department, 41-18.
Angel Perez was the lone bright spot for EAC, which saw its five-game winning streak snapped. She finished with 13 points built on seven kills, five aces, and a block.
(C) Roman Prospero/SSL
Last year’s runner-up Bacolod Tay Tung leaned on Rhose Almendralejo’s 18-point outburst—powered entirely by attacks—to secure back-to-back finals appearances.
“Sabi ko sa sarili ko, pagod lang ‘yan. Sabi ko babawi kami sa NU, at ngayon ibinigay nga ni Lord. Babalik ulit kami sa championship,” said Almendralejo.
Alexa Bertolano and Donna Mae De Leon also stepped up for the Thunderbolts with 10 and eight points, respectively.
Althea Sumague led the Green Stallions with 11 points in the losing effort.
De La Salle-Lipa will now battle EAC for the bronze medal.
