NAZARETH School of National University overpowered Holy Family Academy of Pampanga, 25-10, 25-12, while Hope Christian High School warded off University of Mindanao-Tagum, 25-20, 26-24, at the start of the 18-and-under Rebisco Volleyball League at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Laguna last Monday.
Leyte National HS held off Koronadal National Comprehensive HS, 25-20, 25-20, to join NSN and HCS in the early Pool A lead of the two-group tournament featuring the top high school volley squads in the land, including three each from the NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
De La Salle-Lipa crushed Cagayan de Oro’s Angelicum Learning Center, 25-12, 25-16; host Holy Rosary College of Sta. Rosa thwarted University of San Jose-Recoletos, 25-20, 28-26, and Bacolod Tay Tung HS repulsed Far Eastern U-Diliman, 20-25, 25-22, 25-19, in Pool B of the inaugural staging of the week-long championship sponsored by Rebisco and organized by Metropolitan Sports and Events Group Inc. headed by Freddie Infante.
Action heats up today as the teams step up their respective bids in the single-round elims with the top two from each side will advance to the crossover semis. The winners will dispute the crown on Sunday, according to tournament director Johanz Buenvenida.
Solar TV will telecast the games on a delayed basis.
National U was actually disputing the solo lead with Leyte NS at presstime with Hope Christian seeking a second straight victory against Koronadal and De La Salle-Lipa taking on FEU. Other matches pit Holy Rosary College vs Angelicum, Bacolod against USJ and Holy Family Academy vs UM-Tagum.
Rebisco is backing girls’ volley in its continuing effort to develop the sport and help produce the next generation of stars. The country’s top snack-food company has sponsored the national team’s participation in the Asian Seniors Women’s Championship in Laguna, the Asian Women’s Volleyball Club Championship in Kazakhstan and the recent smash-hit Battle of the Rivals, which pitted Ateneo against La Salle at MOA.