LUCENA—League leader Quezon clinched the first twice-to-beat semifinal bonus, smothering Rizal St. Gerrard Charity Foundation with a 25-21, 25-20, 25-23 home win in the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) Season 1 over the weekend at the Quezon Convention Center.
Four players registered double figures as the Tangerines assured themselves a Top-2 finish at 12-1 with three games to spare in the two-round, nine-team MPVA founded by former Senator and also MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao.
Quezon could only get down to four losses, securing an upperhand over Rizal, at 10-4, which it swept in two meetings for a sure finish at either No. 1 or No. 2. Bacoor, at 9-2, holds the inside track to other incentive with a potential to even snatch the top seeding.
Making it possible for the Tangerines was Cristy Ondangan, who rifled in 13 points on nine hits and four blocks.
Mary Grace Borromeo added 12 while Rhea Mae Densing and Francis Mycah Go had 11 each as Quezon swept its homestand after also taking care of business against AM Caloocan Air Force, 23-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-12, on Saturday.
Quezon scored a four-set win over Rizal in the first round and was not to be denied once again, especially in front of its passionate homecrowd, to stamp its class as the top title contender in its first season as an expansion squad in the MPVA by Extreme One-Stop Shop Appliances, ASICS, Mikasa and Gerflor with MPTV and Outcomm as broadcast partners.
In the other game, Biñan Tatak Gel wiped out winless WCC Marikina, 25-15, 25-17, 25-12, to shore up its semifinal bid.
Shane Carmona and Chreizel Aguilar tallied 11 points each to lead the Volley Angels, who firmed up hold of the fourth spot at 7-5.
Biñan’s win kept the chasing AM Caloocan Air Force (5-6) at bay in the heated semifinal race entering the tailend of the MPVA organized by the Volleyball Masters of the Philippines.
Johna Denise Dolorito had 12 for Rizal (10-4) as Karla Concepcion, with six points, was the lone bright spot for the also-ran Marikina (0-13).
