HFA spikers bounce back, stay in hunt

MANILA, Philippines - Holy Family Academy rebounded from a straight-set loss blowout to University of St. La Salle by beating Baguio City High School, 25-16, 26-24, 25-20, to keep its Final Four hopes alive in the Shakey’s Volley League Tournament of Champions in Davao City Thursday.

The HFA tossers, winners of the Central Luzon elims, fended off the Northern Luzon leg champions’ fightback in the second set then reasserted their might in the third to complete the victory for a 1-1 card in Pool A of the two-group tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and organized by Metro Sports.

The Baguio tossers dropped to 1-1.

Mighty Sports-Hope Christian High School, USLS and Pajo National HS, meanwhile, moved closer to the crossover semis by notching their second straight victories in the event backed by Toby’s, Mikasa and Asics.

The defending champion HCS squad survived a second straight four-setter, ousting De La Salle-Lipa, 24-26, 25-16, 25-23, 25-17 in Pool B; USLS routed New Ormoc City National HS, 25-7, 25-9, 25-22 in Pool A; and PHS booted out Davao City National HS, 25-20, 25-22, 25-16, in Pool B.

The top two teams after the single round elims clash in the crossover semis with the winners disputing the crown in the event which features the top eight teams in various regional elims.

Univ. of St. La Salle takes on Baguio HS, Holy Family battles winless New Ormoc, while Hope and Pajo dispute the top semis berth on the final day of the single round elims.