California Academy weathered a furious fourth set fightback by Naga College Foundation to eke out a 25-18, 18-25, 25-14, 25-19, victory in the winner-take-all final to reign supreme in the 2023 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League yesterday at the San Andres Gym in Manila.
The Antipolo-based squad was quick to recover from a second frame meltdown and showed nerves of steel in keeping its composure amid the tremendous pressure shown by the feisty Tigers to complete a sweep of the tournament.
Jelaica Gajero and Casiey Dongallo once again delivered the goods for California Academy with a combined 28 attack points. Gajero finished with 18 points while Dongallo got 17 points.
Jenalyn Umayan added 13 points including a powerful hit that pushed California Academy at match point.
“It wasn’t a perfect game as Naga played really well. We’re glad that in the end, history is made and the girls won the first Shakey’s GVIL. We’re proud of that,” California Academy head Obet Vital said of his team’s latest conquest following last year’s Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League triumph.
Naga gave California Academy a scare in the fourth set as it closed the gap, 14-16, after scoring three straight points capped by a kill block by Nathasza Bombita.
California Academy countered with a 9-3 run to close the match with Naga throwing the game away with the last of its atrocious 33 errors for the final score.
Arah Panique had 19 points in a lost cause for Naga while Bombita came up with 15 points.
Meanwhile, Bacolod Tay Tung High School easily overpowered fancied National University-Nazareth School, 25-14, 25-22, 25-15, to claim the bronze medal.
Dona Mae De Leon displayed precision hitting for the Ilonggas punching in 13 points from an impressive 11-of-14 spiking clip while adding two kill blocks as Bacolod dominated the reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines juniors champions Lady Bullpups.
Maria Jothea Ramos chipped in 11 points while Alexia Montoro and Ana Hermosura fired six apiece in Bacolod’s statement win following a stinging loss to Naga in the Final Four.
“This is a huge win for us. We’re proud were able to bring this bronze back to Bacolod,” Bacolod coach Ian Macariola said.
Bacolod swept its group in the elimination round but fell prey to the resilient Naga in four sets in the semis last week.
Bacolod took the fight out of the Manila-based Lady Bullpups early with a fiery start. NU-NS showed some resistance in the second frame but Bacolod made sure that it won’t be denied a podium finish.
Kianne Louise Olango was the lone bright spot for NU-NS, which absorbed its second straight loss in the worst possible time to miss out on a podium finish after bowing to California Academy in the other semis pairing.
Olango finished with 16 points anchored on 12 kills, three kill blocks and an ace for the Lady Bullpups while Celine Marsh and Yesha Noceja got nine and eight markers, respectively.
In the classification matches, Adamson University silenced University of Santo Tomas, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-19, in the battle for fifth place while Far Eastern University-Diliman edged out La Salle-Lipa 19-25, 25-19, 25-20, 24-26, 17-15 in the battle for seventh.
Shaina Nitura and Abegail Segui led the way for Adamson with 25 and 21 points, respectively, while FEU-Diliman banked on Lovely Lopez’ 23 points and Clarisse Loresco’s 20 markers.
