MPVA: Bacoor escapes Biñan to open second round

Bacoor Strikers in the MPVA Season 1 women’s volleyball tournament. –HANDOUT PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Bacoor outlasted Biñan Tatak Gel in five sets, 20-25, 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 15-3, to start the second round of the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) Season 1 on a high note on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Cyrille Joie Alemania delivered 21 points to lead the collective effort of the Strikers, who squandered a 2-1 match advantage but regained their dominance in the fifth set with a 12-point rout.

Winnie Bedania was instrumental for Bacoor with 15 points, while Jemalyn Menor and Shaila Allaine Omipon delivered 11 and 10 points, respectively.

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The Strikers, who lost to league leaders Quezon (10-1) but bounced back against No.2 seed Rizal (9-3), tightened its grip on third place with an improved 8-2 record in the nine-team league founded by MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao and organized by the Volleyball Masters of the Philippines.

Bacoor reasserted its mastery of Biñan following a straight-set win over its south rival in the first round. 

The Strikers were the champions of the first but shorter edition of the MPVA before the league shifted to its first full home-and-away season this year, featuring an expansion of nine squads led by the impressive neophyte Quezon.

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Quezon had an unbeaten start in nine games but, absorbed its first loss last week to Biñan, which however could not sustain the momentum against Bacoor.

May Ann Nuique and Erika Jin Deloria led the Biñan Volley Angels with 16 points apiece, dropping to a 6-5 card in fourth place.