NCR, 2 others set pace in Shakey’s GVL

National Capital Region outclassed Northern Mindanao while defending champion Western Visayas and Southern Luzon needed three sets to hurdle their rivals as they set the pace in the opener of the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League Season 13 national finals at Cuneta Astrodome on Monday.

The NCR bets, represented by National University, overpowered Northern Mindanao’s Angelicum Learning Center, 25-15, 25-20, in Pool B of the two-group finals featuring eight regional winners of the annual event sponsored by Shakey’s.

Southern Luzon, bannered by De La Salle-Lipa, joined NCR in the Pool B lead after a 25-16, 24-26, 25-21 victory over Central Visayas’ University of San Jose-Recoletos.

Western Visayas, which stunned NCR in last year’s championship on a team built around St. John’s Institute aces, bucked a shaky start to thwart Northern Luzon, 22-25, 25-9, 25-23, in Pool A of the event backed by Asics, Mikasa and My Phone.

The race to the semifinals heats up today with Western Visayas battling Southern Mindanao at 3 p.m., NCR facing Central Visayas at 4 p.m. and Northern Luzon colliding with Eastern Visayas at 5 p.m.