National University-Nazareth School wasted no time asserting its dominance, dismantling King’s Montessori High School, 25-16, 25-14, to kick off its title-retention campaign in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 1 on Monday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
Bannered by Alas Pilipinas Girls standout Xyz Rayco, the Lady Bullpups showcased their firepower early, with Rayco delivering 10 points built on six aces and four attacks.
Jaila Adrao chipped in nine points, while Jhaynna Bulandres and Raine Alonzo added eight and seven points, respectively, as the reigning UAAP champions needed just 46 minutes to complete the straight-sets victory.
Kriska Gendap and Sharina Lleses paced King’s Montessori with six and five points, respectively.
In another Pool D encounter, University of Santo Tomas staged a gritty comeback to outlast De La Salle-Zobel, 24-26, 25-20, 15-9, in 73 minutes.
Nicole Pelaez and Ryzel Laag spearheaded the Junior Tigresses’ decisive finishing kick, combining in an 11-3 blast in the deciding set to overturn an early deficit and secure the win.
Pelaez led UST with 10 points, including the match-clinching hit, while Laag contributed eight markers—four of which came in the third set. Eliz Mechavez added eight points for the Junior Tigresses.
UST trailed early in the final frame, 4-6, before unleashing a 10-1 run capped by consecutive service aces from Laag to reach match point, 14-7. The Junior Lady Spikers saved two match points off UST errors, but Pelaez sealed the victory with a decisive kill.
Jeleanne Laborte scored 10 points for De La Salle-Zobel, while Alyanna Valdez and Kylie Celada added eight markers apiece in the loss.
Elsewhere in Division 1, Immaculada Conception College turned back Canossa Academy, 25-12, 26-24, in Pool B, while St. John’s Institute defeated De La Salle-Lipa, 26-24, 25-13, in Pool C to open their campaigns on a winning note.
In Division 2 action, reigning champion Domuschola International School dominated The Beacon Academy, 25-8, 25-8, in Pool E to jumpstart its own title defense.
San Beda University also prevailed in Pool E, edging MGC-New Life Christian Academy, 25-23, 25-19. UST-B swept La Salle Green Hills, 25-23, 25-13, while Poveda defeated last year’s runner-up Everest International School, 25-21, 25-16, in Pool F.
Assumption Antipolo beat Pace Academy, 25-18, 25-15, and National University-Nazareth School B routed CCF-The Life Academy, 25-7, 25-9, in Pool G. In Pool H, De La Salle Zobel-B downed St. Paul College-Pasig, 25-16, 25-19, while University of Batangas defeated Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, 25-12, 25-19.
Action resumes Tuesday with 12 matches on tap.
SGVIL games are available live and on-demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
