California Academy and Naga College Foundation battle for all the marbles in a winner-take-all championship showdown in the 2023 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League today at the San Andres Gym in Malate, Manila.
Well-rested and given a week to prepare, expect nothing but fireworks when the two explosive provincial teams looking to complete a perfect run with the crown to boot collide at 4 p.m.
Both squads are coming off huge wins against favored rivals in the Final Four last week in the 16-team spikefest.
The Antipolo-based California Academy defeated reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines juniors champion National University-Nazareth School, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 27-25, last Saturday.
Casiey Dongallo and Gelaica Gajero are again expected to deliver the same performance they displayed against the Lady Bullpups.
Head coach Obet Vital braces for an all-out war against a familiar foe.
“We’re not gonna take Naga lightly. We played Naga before. All teams here are very strong and respectable. This is the best of the best in the Philippines right now. We’ll be ready,” he said.
Naga, meanwhile, claimed the scalp of fancied Bacolod Tay Tung High School, 11-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23, in the other semis pairing.
“Our strong heart is our biggest strength. You can’t count us out. We will fight until the bitter end,” Naga mentor Parley Tupaz said.
The Bicolanas are out to settle an unfinished business.
“We’ll get another shot at California, hopefully, this time we’ll be lucky. We went up against them in other (tournament) finals and we lost. This time we’re out for payback.”
Naga will rely on the trio of Arah Ellah Panique, who dropped 27 points last game, Sheena Sarie and Nathasza Bombita.
Meanwhile, NUNS and Bacolod go for the consolation bronze medal at 2 p.m.
In the classification matches, Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas collide at 12 p.m. in the battle for fifth place after the duel of Far Eastern University-Diliman and La Salle Lipa for seventh at 9 a.m.
