California Precision Sports (CPS) cruised past Santa Rosa City (SRC), 25-10, 25-19, for another straight-set victory and the early lead in girls’ Pool C on Day 2 Saturday of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Under-18 Championships at the Rizal Memorial Sports Coliseum.
Chemistry was key to CPS’s second consecutive victory in the tournament revived by the PNVF through its president Ramon “Tats” Suzara and supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.
Team captain and setter Kizzie Madriaga willed the Antipolo City-based CPS most of the way with precision plays that set her teammates up for the win.
“She is by far the most important piece in our offense,” said CPS coach Dr. Obet Estrella Vital, referring to Madriaga who started playing for the team as an 11-year-old six years ago showing full potential.
“I think our edge over Santa Rosa was our chemistry,” added Vital, who also credited mainstays Casiey Monique Dongallo (outside hitter) and Jenalyn Umayam (middle hitter) for finishing what Madriaga fed them.
Also on Saturday, Bethel Academy defeated Ateneo de Manila University, 25-14, 25-11, in a girls’ Pool D match in the tournament where, according to competition director Oliver Mora, most of the players from the 20 girls and 16 boys team are experiencing playing on FIVB-standard and world-class Gerflor floor, Senoh nets, and Mikasa balls.
“These boys and girls are playing inspired as they are playing with FIVB-standard equipment as well as in a historic venue, Rizal Memorial Coliseum,” Mora said.
The Rizal Memorial Coliseum sports a modern venue—including airconditioning—after the historic venue was fully renovated by the PSC for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
In Friday’s matches, Volida Volleyball Club defeated Hiraya, 25-22, 25-14, in girls’ Pool D, and Justice CM Palma High School rallied past Team Makati, 23-25, 25-13, 25-22, in boys’ Pool A.
In other boys’ results Friday, Nagcarlan Laguna survived Queen Anne School (Quezon City), 25-19, 18-25, 26-24, in Pool D and MNHS-Antipolo City beat Philippine Christian University, 25-16, 25-12, in Pool B.
