The Lady Spikers breezes through the tournament with a six-game sweep as the team snags its third straight crown in the PVF National Inter-Collegiate Volleyball Tournament.
The Taft-based Volleybelles still managed to clobber reigning NCAA champion, University of Perpetual Help System Delta Lady Altas without team captain Cha Cruz and defense specialist Melissa Gohing, in four sets, 21-25, 28-26, 25-9, 25-18.
UAAP Season 74 MVP Abigail Maraño continued her stellar performance, which brought her the MVP title, while Ara Galang and Mika Esperanza were named Best Attacker and Best Setter respectively.
Multi-titled Coach Ramil De Jesus also received the Best Coach of the weeklong tournament held at the Benguet State University Gymnasium and Cordillera Career Development College Gymnasium.
Rough road?
This UAAP season, the team faces tough challenges in developing leaders, finding Cruz’ replacement and training a libero player.
Though there have been talks of Abi Maraño’s rising leadership responsibilities, Coach De Jesus quickly clarifies, “Actually, we have no team captain yet.” He elaborates that he wants his team captain to be recognized, chosen and respected by his players.
Maraño has been appointed officer in Charge (OIC) of the team.
Well-known Lady Spikers icon Cruz’ absence has created a gap in the team’s line-up.
Coach De Jesus is considering Wensh Tiu, Cydthealee Demecillo, and Cha’s sister Camille as possible replacements.
Defense specialist Gohing, according to coach, is still undecided.
Coach De Jesus, however, explains that Rochelle Sison and Cienne Cruz will be able to handle the defense should Gohing back out.
New blood
The team has acquired two rookies, Princess Tiu from La Salle College Antipolo and Mary Joy Baron from Baguio City, on its roster.
The rookies, according to Coach De Jesus, are still fresh from high school level, and would consequently need to adjust.
They will need to improve muscle strength and learn techniques unique to college level volleyball.
Their male counterparts, the Green Spikers, held second place in the same tournament after yielding to the National University team in three sets, 25-19, 25-17, 25-15.
Despite the Spikers’ failed back-to-back championship bid, DLSU veterans Philip Cerveza and Renz Casanova were awarded Best Receiver and Best Libero plums respectively.
Green Spikers Head Coach Sammy Acaylar said, “Well, it was a nice game and well, of course we got only the first runner-up, but we had a good performance [despite] one of my players having an operation.”
Assistant team captain and reigning InterCol MVP Myco Antonio was out of commission due to a varicose vein in his goiter.
According to Coach Acaylar, the injury will put Antonio out for a month and a half.
