Reigning UAAP champion National University Nazareth School notched another easy win as Naga College Foundation continued to slay giants on Day 3 of the 2023 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Sunday at the San Andres Gym in Malate, Manila.
The Lady Bulldogs mauled La Salle Lipa, 25-17, 25-7, with Naga pulling the rug from under the fancied La Salle Zobel, 25-11, 25-18, to stay unbeaten in their respective groups of the 16-team GVIL backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Potato Corner, Peri-Peri and R&B Tea with the City of Manila as government cooperation partner.
NUNS, which demolished University of Perpetual Help System Dalta with a 25-7, 25-16 win, thus blitzed to a 2-0 slate in Pool A as Naga likewise improved to 2-0 in Pool D after a stunning three-set win over University of Santo Tomas.
Kianne Louise Olango once again bannered the balanced attack with 13 points for the Lady Bullpups, who also drew support from Bienne Louise Bansil, Celine Marsh, and Yesha Noceja with six points apiece.
“Thankful for the win but we had a slow start again. Ni-remind ko lang ‘yung girls na 3 sets lang ito kaya kailangan masanay kami na maging maayos agad first set pa lang. Nangangapa pa rin kami, naninibago pa,” said coach Vilet Ponce-De Leon.
For Naga, NU-commit Arah Ellah Panique sizzled anew with 18 points, after anchoring the team’s upset win over the Junior Tigresses, at the expense of no less than the decorated La Salle Zobel.
“Naka-tsamba lang kami ulit. Pangalawang tsamba pero ‘yun nga, kaya pala namin makipagsabayan sa mga UAAP teams. Sana magtuloy-tuloy,” beamed mentor Parley Tupaz.
La Salle Lipa and La Salle Zobel slid to 1-1 marks in Pool A and D, respectively, of the elite high school tourney also powered by Mikasa, Team Rebel Sports, Toby’s Sports, Genius Sports, and SM Tickets.
La Salle Lipa bested Grace Christian College Foundation, 25-17, 9-25, 25-17, while La Salle Zobel escaped Emilio Aguinaldo College-Immaculate Conception Academy, 25-22, 26-28, 25-18, in the opener last weekend.
Meanwhile, Kriselle Pecaña and Catherine Chua fired 13 and 11 points, respectively, as Arellano (1-1) bounced back with a 25-19, 25-18, against St. Clare of Caloocan (0-3) in Pool C.
All games of Shakey’s GVIL, in partnership with Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc., (ACES), will be broadcasted live and on-demand through all social media platforms courtesy of Plus Network with CNN Philippines, Solar Sports, and Tap Sports as TV partners.
In the fourth match, Casiey Dongallo hammered 12 points as unbeaten California Academy edged out Far Eastern U-Diliman, 25-17, 25-17, to snatch the lead in Pool C.
Jelaica Gajero added nine points for California, who hiked to 2-0 in Pool C, while FEU-D finished at 2-1 with no player scoring in twin digits.
Later, Grace Christian College Foundation (1-1) leaned on Sherrie Acosta’s 15 points to eclipse University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (0-2), 25-22, 23-25, 25-14, in Pool A.
In the last match, Adamson (2-1) soared to its second straight win in Pool B against Lyceum of the Philippines University (0-3), 25-12, 25-8, on Abegail Segui’s 10 points.
