DLS-Lipa, CES claim Toby's junior volley plums

MANILA, Philippines - Concepcion Elementary School foiled De La Salle-Lipa for a two-title sweep as it hacked out a 25-15, 25-23 victory to capture the boys’s crown in the Toby’s Juniors Volleyball League at Lyceum gym over the weekend.

John Carlo Madrigalejos and Ruvince Abrot banged away seven and five kills, respectively, as the CES tossers dominated the opening set then hung tough in the second to scuttle the Batangas-based squad and end a four-year title drought in the tournament sponsored by Toby’s Sports.

CES last won in Toby’s JVL Season 2 when Patrick John Rojas, now with the San Sebastian College in the NCAA, dominated both the attack and block departments.

Earlier, DLS-Lipa secured the girls’ diadem by stopping Colegio San Agustin, battling back from an 18-24 deficit by winning the next eight points while holding CSA scoreless for a 26-24 win. The defending champions then stamped their class in the second and wrapped up the title with a 25-17 victory.

Janelle Lo and Audrey Paran scored eight points apiece to spearhead the DLS-Lipa’s successful title-retention bid in the tournament backed by Shakey’s, LBC, Mikasa, Asics and Metro Sports.

Palanan Elem. School, meanwhile, outlasted Elizabeth Seton School, 26-24, 20-25, 25-18, to bag third place honors in the boys’ side while MGC New Life Academy also pulled off a three-setter over F. Benitez Elem. School, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, in their battle for third in girls’ play.

Paran ran away with two individual titles, including the MVP and the best blocker award while Kyle Mangulabnan was named the best setter. Other winners were CSA’s Samantha Torres (best attacker) and Sydney Eleazar (best server), MGC’s Kimmee Lao (best digger) and FBES’ Nica Nakpil (best receiver) while DLS-Lipa’s Imee Africa took the best coach plum.

Madrigalejos won the MVP plum and the best receiver award in the boys’ category while ESS’ Robie Jay Tan and DLS-Lipa’s Joshua Diaz taking the best blocker and best attacker titles, respectively. Other winners were DLS-Lipa Keith Canobas (best server), PES’ Jeric Deximo (best digger), Rodney Especo of CES (best setter) and Rodel Pagdanganan of CES (best coach).