NCR, WV fuel Shakey’s LoC semis bid

MANILA, Philippines - National Capital Region and Western Visayas essayed a pair of straight-set victories to match idle Southern Luzon’s 2-0 card for crack at the Final Four of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League Season 12 League of Champions at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City late Thursday.

Represented by the fancied National U spikers, NCR whipped Bangladesh, 25-9, 25-9, as Elaine Cloza fired 14 hits in a big follow-up to the team’s 27-25, 25-16 win over Victoria of Australia Wednesday as it closed in on the first of two semis berths in Pool A of the two-division event sponsored by Shakey’s.

Western Visayas, bannered by St. John’s Institute, likewise stamped its class over Central and Eastern Visayas champion Univ. of San Carlos as Jewi Maligmat smashed 11 hits for a 25-23, 25-8 victory as it joined SL’s De La Salle-Lipa in the lead in Pool B of the tournament organized by Metro Sports and backed by Mikasa, Asics, Volley Prep, Nature’s Spring, Sun Star, The Freeman Newspaper, Cebu Daily News, Chooga, El Lobo Energy Drink and Millenia.

Southern Mindanao’s Tagum City National High, with Lycha Ebon shooting 14 hits, blasted guest team Biñan, 25-20, 25-13, to open its bid in Pool A even as Victoria bounced back from its loss to NCR with a tough 28-26, 25-22 win over Biñan.

Northern and Central Luzon’s Holy Faith Academy also struck back from back-to-back setbacks to Western Visayas and Southern Luzon as Rafaelle Clarissa del Rosario struck for eight points to down Northern Mindanao’s Iligan City National High, 25-16, 25-21, and likewise stay in the semis hunt in Pool B.

Meanwhle, Shakey’s CEO Vic Gregorio, Philippine Volleyball Federation sec-gen Rustico Camangian, Shakey’s marketing manager Koi Castillo and Shakey’s PR and events officer Jam Evaristo graced the opening of the League of Champions, which gathered the top seven teams from the nationwide elims and three guests teams, including Victoria from Australia, Bangladesh and Biñan.

The top two teams from each group after the single round robin will clash in the crossover semis with the winners disputing the crown tomorrow, according to tournament director Johanz Buenvenida of Metro Sports.