Hope rips La Salle, posts third Shakey’s GVL win

MANILA, Philippines - Hope Christian College pounded out a 25-13, 25-23 victory over De La Salle-Zobel to stretch its win run to three and move closer to the semifinal round in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League Season 11 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium recently.

The defending champion Hope spikers dominated their Alabang-based rivals in the opener but needed to put their act together in the next to complete the straight-set win for the solo lead in Pool A of the two-group tournament sponsored by Shakey’s.

University of Santo Tomas, meanwhile, clobbered MGC New Life Christian Academy, 25-16, 25-10, to post its second straight win to seize control in Pool B of the single-round stage with the top four mixing it up in the crossover semis.

In other matches, Kings’ Montessori School waylaid Jubilee Christian Academy, 25-16, 25-12, for a 1-1 card in Pool A while National University booked its second straight win after dropping its opening day game to UST with a 25-10, 25-17 romp over St. Scholastica’s College.

Meanwhile, HCS tries to formalize its stint in the Final Four as it goes for win No. 4 against KMS at 3 p.m. in today’s resumption of the event backed by Mikasa, Asics, Tune Hotel, Burlington, BioFresh, Food Health and Science Magazine.

UST also seeks a third straight win as it clashes with St. Scho at 5 p.m. after the 4 p.m. match between Angelicum College (1-1) and MGC New Life Christian Academy (0-2).

Miriam College and Jubilee Christian Academy collide in a duel of winless teams at 6 p.m.

The two-weekend long event serves as one of the eight regional tournaments with the winners advancing to the Tournament of Champions to be spiced up by guest teams from Australia and New Zealand.

Making it to the T-of-C, set Jan. 13-17, 2014, also at NAS, are University of San Jose-Recoletos, Central Philippine University, Leyte National High School and Angeles University Foundation, which topped their respective elims the last few weeks.

Meanwhile, the Mindanao elims will be held Nov. 14-17 in Davao, the Northern Luzon leg will be played on Nov. 21-24 in Baguio while the Southern Luzon elims is set Nov. 27-30 in Imus City, Cavite.