USLS repels Hope, keeps Shakey's plum

MANILA, Philippines - University of St. La Salle-Bacolod battled back from two sets down to repulse Hope Christian High School, 19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-17, 15-4, and retain the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League Tournament of Champions crown before a roaring home crowd at the USLS gym Thursday.

Fritz Joy Gallenero and Gizelle Jessica Tan rallied the hosts from a 0-2 deficit then the USLS tossers poured it all out in the decider they dominated with a combination of power game and solid defense.

“They started slow but made the necessary adjustments and showed they have the heart of the champions,” said USLS coach Marilou Lozada.

The win capped the Bacolod spikers’ sterling campaign that saw them sweep their first five games in the six-team elite cast featuring the winners of the league’s regional tournaments sponsored by Shakey’s.

Gallenero went on to bag the MVP honors and the best attacker plum while Tan took the best setter award in the eighth staging of the league backed by LBC, Toby’s Sports, Mikasa, Asics and Metro Sports. Other awardees were Djanel Cheng of Hope (best server), Gretchel Soltones of Pajo NHS (best receiver), Fiola Ceballos of Central Phil. Univ. (best digger), Carol Cerveza of Hope (best blocker).

On hand during awards rites were Philippine Volleyball Federation president Gener Dungo, Metro Sports president Freddie Infante and Vic Gregorio, executive vice president of Shakey’s.

Pajo NHS, winner of the Cebu regional, took third place honors with a repeat 25-23, 20-25, 25-15, 25-9 victory over Ilolio regional champion CPU.