Hope Christian is champ

CEBU, Philippines - Hope Christian High School (HCHS) trounced Pajo National High School (PNHS) 25-18, 25-18, 25-18 to win the championship of the 6th Shakey’s Girls V-League National Finals billed as “Tournament of Champions” yesterday at the USPF gym.

The win is the third title for the team from Manila. They also won in 2005 and 2006.

After barging into the finals, volleyball enthusiasts expected PNHS to avenge its loss to HCHS after the latter defeated them in last month’s final in the Milo National Finals.

It was not meant to be.

Instead, the towering volleybelles of HCHS showed they are the better team.

The wards of Coach Jerry Yee silenced the determined PNHS team in the first set with a torrid attack.

With momentum on their side, HCHS raised to a 20-12 lead in the second set and were about to wrap up the set when PNHS started to fight back.

With Athena Sucalit, Catherine Marquez, Catherine Soltones and Marjorie Coloscos scoring in a 6-0 rally, PNHS came within 18-20.

HCHS bounced back, and with team captain Denise Alexandra Tan along with Desiree Cheng, Carol Cerveza, Rica Jane Enclona and identical Cruz twins, Camille and Cienne, attacking with gusto, wrapped up the second set with a 5-0 run.

The third set was all HCHS show, as Pajo seemed to have given up the fight after the second set rally that fell short.

“The kids just love to play and everybody knows their respective roles inside the court. Pajo showed great defense but I’m just glad that the girls were able to manage it well although they’re still juniors,” said Yee.

Despite losing in the final, Pajo gained the respect of their fans by improving on its third place finish in the tourney last year.

Reigning Palarong Pambansa champs, University of St. La Salle (USLS) – Bacolod took the third place honors after clinching Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) of Tacloban in dominating fashion, 25-12, 15-14, 25-19.   (FREEMAN NEWS)