Three provincial teams made their way into the semifinals of the 2023 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League on Sunday at the San Andres Gym in Manila.
California Academy, Naga College Foundation and Bacolod Tay Tung High School booked tickets to the knockout semifinals, leaving title favorite National University-Nazareth School as the lone Manila-based team in the Final Four cast.
Top high school prospects Casiey Dongallo and Jelaica Gajero led the way for California Academy in booting out Adamson University, 25-17, 25-16, in their quarterfinal pairing.
Dongallo finished with 12 points while Gajero added 10 markers as the Antipolo-based spikers preserved their unbeaten slate in 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.
“I’m glad the girls played pretty well. It’s an emotional game for the girls given that on the other side is their friend and former Cal baby, Shaina Nitura. We’re happy. Shaina played well and the girls played well. It’s a historic moment for us,” California Academy coach Obet Vital said.
California Academy has set up a Final Four collision course with NUNS, which beat Far Eastern University-Diliman, 25-15, 25-18, in the quarterfinal.
Naga College Foundation, on the other hand, had to overcome a bad start to beat La Salle Lipa in a come-from-behind fashion, 14-25, 25-17, 25-17.
Arah Ellah Panique was just unstoppable as she dropped 22 points with Sheena Sarie chipping in 11 points to back her up for the also unbeaten Bicolanas.
“We’re like diesel, needing time to get our game going. We allowed ourselves to get beat up at first. Just like Fernando Poe Jr., we absorbed a lot of punches before fighting back,” Naga coach Parley Tupaz quipped.
“I told them not to give up as the game is not yet over.”
Naga will face Bacolod in the other semis match on Saturday.
The Ilonggas advanced into the Final Four after scoring a huge upset over University of Santo Tomas, 25-22, 25-23, in their quarters clash.
