MPVA: Rizal thumps Valenzuela ahead of semifinals

Rizal St. Gerard during an MPVA game. –HANDOUT PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Rizal St. Gerard ended its elimination round stint on a high note after trouncing the also-ran Valenzuela Classy, 25-23, 25-14, 25-12, ahead of the 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) semifinals on Wednesday night at Bacoor Strike Gym in Cavite.

Joann Faith De Guzman led the collective effort of Rizal, which had 11 players score in the match to finish the elimination round in fourth place with an 11-5 record.

Rizal had the same record as Biñan Tatak Gel 1-Pacman Partylist but the latter had 35 points — five ahead of St. Gerard–to get the third place in the MPVA founded by former Senator and also MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao and organized by Volleyball Masters of the Philippines.

READ: MPVA: Bacoor clinches twice-to-beat in semifinals

Rizal battles the twice-to-beat Quezon Tangerines (12-2) on Monday at Bacoor Strike Gym, while No.2 and twice-to-beat Bacoor takes on Biñan in the other semifinal bearing.

Valenzuela ended its season at eighth place with a 4-12 record with Lilet Mabbayad having seven points.

READ: MPVA: Biñan clinches semis spot, Quezon secures top seed

Meanwhile, Caloocan finished its MPVA stint with a 25-5, 25-7, 25-7 rout of WCC Marikina. 

Rhea Manalo dropped nine points to help Caloocan finish in fifth place with a 9-7 record. 

San Juan (6-10) finished at No. 6 with ICC Negros (5-11) at No. 7 at the end of the first home-and-away season of the MPVA.

Marikina was winless in 16 games with Brigitte Martinez scoring the most points for her team with five.