Hope, UST, UPHL spikers vie for finals

MANILA, Philippines - Hope Christian School steps up its bid for a second straight championship in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League as it squares off with University of Perpetual Help-Laguna in the semifinal round at the Arellano gym today.

Three teams are actually vying for finals berths with University of Santo Tomas joining Hope and UPHL in the double round-robin phase with the top two disputing the NCR title.

Hope and UPHL collide at 9 a.m. while UST takes on UPHL at 10 a.m. and UST and Hope mix it up at 11 a.m.

The organizing Metrosports said the NCR champion and the runner-up will join the top teams from Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Tacloban for the national championship in the Tournament of Champions in Tacloban, Leyte.

The HCS spikers, headed by Carol Cerveza, knocked off Imus Institute, 25-14, 25-14, in the quarterfinal round last week to cap their impressive campaign in the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Toby’s Sports, Dunkin’ Donuts, Mikasa and Asics.

But they are expected to encounter stiff resistance from UPHL, which turned back erstwhile unbeaten San Antonio de Padua behind Jorelle Singh and Asuncion Mendiola and UST, which drew steady games from Alyza Valdez and Kim Fajardo to oust Angeles University Foundation.