PAVIA, Iloilo – Lady Pythons were pushed to the limit before scoring a 25-22, 22-25, 25-13 triumph over OLIS at the start of the Gametime Invitational Volleyball League on Sunday at the Pavia Covered Gym here.
Led by Melysa Canaya and Joanne Coronado, the Lady Pythons started strong in the first set but failed to close out the match in the second frame. They, however, managed to regain their form in the third set to take an early 1-0 lead in Group A.
Team AC, spearheaded by Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors’ DM Demontaño and Jackie Estoquia, easily defeated Team Unicorns, 25-16, 25-16, for an early advantage in Group B.
Team Maddyline, behind incoming Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws’ Elizza Alimen, scored a 25-11, 25-19 straight set victory home squad Team Arangka Pavia to tie Lady Pythons on top of Group A.
In the men’s division, Team Dumangas and San Miguel Latinos gained an early edge in Group A with their separate wins, while VPH were currently on top in Group B with 1-0 advantage.
Dumangas walloped Zarraga Pantat Spikers, 25-21, 25-16; while San Miguel Latinos prevailed over Blazing Spikers, 25-16, 25-20. VPH, on the other hand, swept Team Arangka Pavia, 25-18, 25-18.
The Gametime Invitational Volleyball League, which is to be held every Saturday and Sunday, will take a break before resuming to action with four men’s and women’s matches each on Jan. 8.
Scheduled men’s division will be between Unitas and Zarraga (8:30 a.m.); Pythons and Pavia (9:30 a.m.); Iloilo Doctors College Alumni and Arteestic Aces (10:30 a.m.) and San Miguel and Dumangas (3:30 p.m.).
There were also four women’s division games in J. Blazers and OLIS (11:30 a.m.); Team Unicorn and UCV (12:30 p.m.), Lady Pythons and Maddyline (1:30 p.m.) and Lioness and AC (2:30 p.m.).
“As shown in the first day of our competition, each game is very unpredictable since every team had their strengths,” said Gametime’s Rodolfo Go Villaruz. “Even if there are some players who have Manila experience, our local players will keep in step with them.”/PN
