Adamson University and De La Salle-Lipa swept their opponents for the solo lead in their respective pools in the 2024 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (GVIL) Thursday at the Arellano University-Taft gym.
The Lady Baby Falcons rode the momentum of their opening-day victory to defeat Holy Rosary College, 25-22, 25-23, for a 2-0 win-loss record in Pool D.
Adamson, the reigning UAAP champion, clawed out of a six-point hole in the opening set with a huge 11-2 closing rally before staving off Holy Rosary’s comeback attempt in the second frame.
UAAP Season 86 MVP Shaina Nitura held the Lady Baby Falcons together in the tough 59-minute encounter and finished with seven points, all from kills, while Samantha Cantada and Abegail Segui combined for 11 markers.
Tied at 23 in the second set, Segui hammered down a thundering down the line kill to push Adamson at match point. The Lady Baby Falcons then shut the door on Christel De Guzman to wrap up the match.
Alexadra Libra got five points while Jasmine Ramos had four for Holy Rosary, which squandered a 20-14 advantage in the first set.
Meanwhile, the Green Stallions downed Chiang Kai-shek College, 25-16, 25-22, for back-to-back wins in Pool A.
Raizah Mamailao pounded 10 of her game-high 11 points on attacks while Althea Sumague and Vida Caringal got eight and seven markers, respectively, for La Salle-Lipa, which inched closer to securing a quarterfinal seat in the country’s premier grassroots volleyball tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Smart Sports, Mikasa, Team Rebel Sports, Data Project, Genius Sports and Robinsons Malls.
“Definitely it’s a big help getting our second win kasi nga top two lang ‘yung papasok. Mahirap matalo so dapat wala talaga, so I’m very happy with our win,” said La Salle-Lipa coach Imelda Mendoza.
The Blue Dragons failed to capitalize on their upset win over defending champion California Academy on Wednesday to slip to a 1-1 card.
Shamira Pantoja had nine points while Sachie Tud and Gwyneth Mangao got four each for Chiang Kai-shek.
In the other Pool A match, Bethel Academy rebounded from an opening day loss with a 25-14, 25-9, drubbing of debuting Lyceum of the Philippines University.
It took the Bethelites only 43 minutes to dispose of the Junior Lady Pirates behind Shane Reterta’s 10 points.
Last year’s third placer Bacolod Tay Tung began its Pool C campaign on the right track after outlasting University of Santo Tomas, 24-26, 25-23, 25-20, on Wednesday.
On the other hand, De La Salle-Zobel bested last edition’s runner-up Naga College Foundation also in a come-from-behind fashion, 23-25, 25-20, 29-27.
All games in the SGVL, organized by Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc., will air via livestream on Smart Sports and Puso Pilipinas, Aliw 23 (free TV), Blast TV (digital regional) and Solar Sports (cable).
Games Friday (Arellano University-Taft)
8 a.m. –– Perpetual vs UST
10 a.m. –– La Salle-Zobel vs EAC
12 p.m. –– Lyceum vs La Salle-Lipa
2 p.m. –– Holy Rosary vs NUNS
4 p.m. — FEU vs Naga College Foundation
