USLS, Hope dispute Shakey's girls volley crown

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion University of St. La Salle hacked out a four-set win over Hope Christian High School Wednesday to sweep the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League Tournament of Champions and arrange a title showdown with its victim at the USLS gym.

The hosts bounced back from a second set loss to sweep the next two and complete a 25-16, 22-25, 25-21, 25-13 victory over the reigning National Capital Region champions to cap their domination of the single round tournament for another crack at the crown.

But Hope CHS coach Jerry Yee opted to rest his starters in the third and fourth set, conserving their energy for the keenly awaited title clash being played at presstime.

Earlier, USLS demolished Davao National High School, 25-16, 25-14, 25-12, to sweep its first four games before getting dragged into a four-setter by Hope in the tournament sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by LBC, Toby’s Sports, Mikasa, Asics and Metro Sports, headed by Freddie Infante, with Johanz Buenvenida as tournament director.

Hope CHS, which matched USLS’ three-game sweep in the first two days, toppled Ormoc National High School, 25-20, 25-21, 25-10, before squaring off with the Bacolod bets in a duel of unbeaten teams.

Central Philippine University defeated Ormoc NHS, 25-19, 25-16, 25-10, for a 2-2 card and a shot at third place, while Davao NHS battled from two-sets down to complete a come-from-behind 22-25, 15-25, 25-16, 25-22, 15-10 victory over Pajo NHS for its first win in four games.