Defending champion Hope Christian School kept its composure and hung tough to hack out a thrilling 25-23, 25-23, 13-25, 19-25, 15-13 victory over St. Scholastica-Manila yesterday and capture the National Capital Region Leg of the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League at The Arena in San Juan City.
Southpaw Mary Juliette So knocked in the winning kill to lift the Hope Christian to the victory, its third NCR Division I title, for a berth in the Tournament of Champions slated June 9 at the University of St. La Salle Gym in Bacolod City.
“It was tough. The girls lost their concentration but recovered in time,” said Hope coach Jerry Yee.
While So delivered the game winner, Karen Joyce del Rosario, Carmela Garbin and Alexanda Tan kept the Scions’ hopes alive with solid hits as they completed the eight-game sweep of the NCR elims in this event presented by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Petron Treats, Toby’s Sports, Dunkin Donuts, Mikasa and Asics.
The Scions will thus join the other regional champions from Negros Occidental, Cebu and Iloilo in the T-of-C Monday.
Leaning on their net game, the Scions took the first two sets but suddenly lost their momentum, enabling St. Scho, behind skipper Fille Cainglet and the power-hitting Angeline Gervacio, to draw level by winning the next two sets.
St. Scho actually sustained its form and took a 2-0 in the decider but So quickly teamed up with Del Rosario, Garbin, Tan and setter Jam Ferrer to wrest control en route to the close victory.
Yee said he expected a close match with St. Scholastica since they used to play with each other, having teamed up in annexing the secondary volleyball gold medal in the recent Palarong Pambansa in Palawan.
“It’s always difficult playing with friends and we’ve been practicing with them for so long that we already knew each other’s styles. So this close match wasn’t really a surprise for us,” said Yee.
Earlier, St. Joseph College of Quezon City downed Diliman Preparatory School, 25-17, 25-16, 23-25, 25-14, to clinch the Division II crown.