WV surprise Shakey’s GVL champ

Western Visayas showed steely resolve to complete a pulsating 25-27, 22-25, 25-13, 27-25, 15-13 victory over National Capital Region last Sunday and wrest the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League Season 12 League of Champions crown at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Refusing to wilt despite going two sets down, the team represented by Bacolod’s St. John’s Institute, rallied mightily in the last three sets to fashion out the victory before a big crowd.

Heroes abound for the Western Visayas spikers with Princess Robles, Therese Maravilla, Catherine Pollentes, Jewel Maligmat and Sylvia Araneta taking turns on attack that left their fancied rivals from National University reeling.

Tenacious at the net, Robles went on to bag MVP honors and best opposite spiker award while Pollentes took the best setter plum.

Also claiming individual awards were NCR’s Kristine Magallanes (best libero), Faith Nisperos (best outside spiker), Caitlin Viray (best middle blocker), Southern Luzon’s Jewel Encarnacion (second best middle blocker) and Southern Mindanao’s May Luna (second best outside spiker).

The SJI squad, mentored by Peter Yusay and Roberto Lozada, was also made up of Kristianne Cortez, Glaudine Troncoso, Lyka Yusay, Jane Hachero, Nicole Escares and Hannah Infante.

In the third-place battle, Southern Luzon edged Southern Mindanao, 25-16, 22-25, 25-18, in the event backed by Shakey’s Pizza and Metro Sports.

The win punctuated St. John’s dominant run in the tournament where it also topped the regional eliminations.  Cedelf P. Tupas