Preview of Rebisco Volleyball League semi-finals

Preview of Rebisco Volleyball League semi-finals

by rick olivares

After five days of intense action, the Rebisco Volleyball League is on its penultimate playing date at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna, this November 25.

Eight of the 12 squads will figure in classification matches while the top four squads will battle in a sudden-death semi-finals.

Pool A top seed Nazareth School of National University (5-0) takes on hometown team, Holy Rosary College (4-1), second seed in Pool B in the first semis match at 5pm while Pool B pace-setter De La Salle Lipa (5-0) battles Pool A second placer Hope Christian High School (4-1) at 7pm.

Nazareth School of National University vs. Holy Rosary College

NSNU is one of the pre-tourney favorites for the champions’ trophy but one suspects that the three-time defending UAAP girls titlists have been taking it easy. After all, they play for the UAAP crown on Monday. How they fare in both is anyone’s guess. But it sure helps having a deep team as head coach Raymond Castillo is able to rotate and rest them.

During the Friday placing match against HCHS, NSNU needed superb games from libero Jennifer Nierva, setter Joyme Cagande, and Michaela Santos and Sheena Toring to stave off a searing rally by Jerry Yee’s girls who were playing under no pressure having come in the tourney as a wildcard squad.

NSNU didn’t come here merely to stay in shape but to win two girls’ titles in two days. So expect them to come away firing against HRC with Faith Nisperos, Alyssa Solomon, Ivy Lacsina and the other Lady Bullpups to bring their A-game.

The HRC Rhinos know that they will need team captain and leading scorer Trisha Ma Genesis to be at the top of her game if they want to enter the finals. Genesis had two subpar performances in their last two outings and it told heavily when they faced La Salle Lipa during the placing games last Friday.

The Rhinos will have to contend with NSNU’s depth, ceiling, talent, and experience but they will have their hometown crowd to back them up. One thing though for their hometown support is when the team gets down, they remain quiet as evidenced during the match against Lipa.

HRC head coach Lerma Giron runs a short rotation and she will need Mellanie Mapula, sparkplug Maveth Torres, Ailiah Marce as well as guest players Kecelyn Galdones and Ysabel Jimenez to backstop Genesis. If she can get Jimenez and Galdones to provide points in the middle, that will open up matters for the wing players. But beating NSNU’s tall frontline in another matter. HRC will have to be excellent on defense if they want to advance.

De La Salle Lipa vs. Hope Christian High School

La Salle coach Ronwald Dimaculangan doesn’t have the deepest of line-ups but he sure does have a formidable starting six of Alleiah Malaluan, Mirgie Bautista, Janel Maraguinot, libero Reign Lumbera, Kimberly Adajar, and Yvonne Humarang. They make use of the serve as a devastating first weapon, counter with excellent net and floor defense, and draw upon a lot of power for their aerial attacks. The key, of course, is Maraguinot who clearly makes this squad that is in rebuilding mode, go.

All tournament long, Dimaculangan has espoused smart play. He knows that he has a young team with few veterans. Their confidence has soared with every game. “Tapang lang,” said the new DLSL coach. “Kailangan yan. And smart play.”

Hope Christian High School on the other hand has been a pleasant surprise. Head coach Jerry Yee says it helps that they came in with no expectations (although his girls teams have a had a reputation for being achievers). Their progression this tournament has been revealing – from the stumbling first game to the excellent floor defense they have exhibited that has allowed them to compete.

The veteran coach will count on Angelika Mondejar, Mycah Go, Ethan Arce, Irah Jaboneta, Cristy Ondangan, Chenae Basarte, libero Kim Estenzo. His players have to be consistent