Team Liloan and Hiroshi coasted to their second straight wins in as many games to take the temporary lead in their respective divisions in the 1st M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Open Indoor Volleyball Tournament last Sunday at the Aznar Coliseum.
After conquering the ML Pamilya Insurance Plans-backed University of the Visayas (UV) in five sets during last Saturday's season-opener at the USC-Main Gym, the visiting Liloan spikers survived another five-set thriller against The Classical Touch, 3-2.
Thus, the Liloanons of team owner Gerardo "Dodong Gamay" Frasco, Jr. momentarily enjoyed the solo lead in the men's class with a clean 2-0 slate in the one-month tiff organized by M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF) executive director Eddie B. Ybañez.
Just when everyone thought The Classical Touch of Alan Choachuy was an easy prey, the Liloanons were caught off-guard as they lost in the first two sets, 21-25, 25-27.
The exuberant Liloanons, however, refused to roll down and just die, staging a courageous fightback spearheaded by Maynard Alejandrino and Angelino Visoc in the next two frames, 25-16, 25-21, to forge a rubbermatch.
In the decider, the two protagonists figured in an air-tight battle, but the Liloanons played cool under heavy fire to fluster The Classical Touch in the end.
In the other men's duel, the ML Cebu Dried Mango Delights-supported University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) of coach Grace Antigua opened its championship campaign on a bright note, whipping UV in three straight sets, 27-25, 28-26, 25-19.
On the other hand, the Hiroshi squad of team owner Harou Iwanaga and coach Ray Acojedo gunned down two opposition in a single day to perch atop the women's leaderboard.
Inspired by their triumph over GDS Security Agency-sponsored Southwestern University (SWU), the Hiroshi belles proceeded with an easy 25-18, 25-19, 25-20 disposition of Kima Glass.
The exciting volleyball action will resume on Sunday with six games on tap either at the UV or USPF gym.
In the morning session that will commence at 8 am, the Arthro Kontra Arthritis-University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) takes on MLSDF All-Stars and Hotel Fortuna/USJ-R tangles with SWU in the women's division, while Crunchicken-USPF tackles Carcar Selection in the men's side.
At 1 pm, ML Cebu Dried Mango Delights/USJ-R faces Big Al's-The Classical Tough of Alan Choachuy followed by the duel between Dewfoam-USC of Dewey Choachuy and Mandaue Selection in the other men's showdown. In the final match of the day, Rich Media Digital Ads-USC hopes to score its first victory when it collides with Arthro-USPF in the distaff side.