MANILA — Bacolod Tay Tung High School stamped its championship intent early, sweeping Pool B with a dominant 4-0 record to lead a wave of unbeaten teams marching into the knockout stage of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 1 on Monday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
Last year’s runner-up showcased its firepower behind Rhose Almendralejo, who fired 14 points in a decisive 25-14, 25-13 win over erstwhile unbeaten Immaculada Conception College to secure top seeding and strong momentum heading into the quarterfinals.
Defending champion National University Nazareth School likewise asserted its dominance in Pool A, crushing Bethel Academy, 25-12, 25-12, to complete a perfect 4-0 campaign. Raine Alonzo led the charge with eight attack points.
“Masaya po na nakapasok kami sa quarterfinals na walang talo. Lahat po pinaghirapan namin may kinalabasan,” said Alonzo.
Bella Cruz added six points, while Jhayna Bulandres and Diza Berayo chipped in five apiece for NUNS, which will face St. John’s Institute in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Far Eastern University-Diliman also swept Pool C, capping its elimination round with a 25-16, 25-18 victory over San Felipe Neri Catholic School. The Baby Lady Tamaraws are set to battle Pool B runner-up Immaculada Conception College in the next round.
In other results, King’s Montessori clinched the final quarterfinal berth in Pool A after eliminating California Academy, 25-17, 25-21. The squad recovered from an opening-day loss to win three straight matches, with Sharina Lleses delivering 11 points to set up a quarterfinal showdown with unbeaten University of Santo Tomas.
UST topped Pool D with a clean sweep, surviving Emilio Aguinaldo College in a three-set thriller, 25-18, 20-25, 15-9.
De La Salle-Lipa closed its Pool C campaign at 2-2 after defeating University of the Philippines Integrated School, 25-16, 25-23.
In Division 2 action, Corpus Christi School dominated Pool E with a 5-0 record after downing Miriam College, 25-22, 25-19. Domuschola International School secured the second quarterfinal slot with a 25-12, 25-22 win over Miriam.
St. Jude Parish School advanced from Pool G after rallying past CCF-The Life Academy, 16-25, 25-14, 15-3, while La Salle Green Hills edged Poveda College, 18-25, 25-19, 17-15, to move on from Pool F.
Immaculate Conception Academy ended its campaign with a 25-18, 25-11 victory over Assumption Antipolo./PN
