LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – It’s down to four after top seeded Sablan, La Trinidad, Kapangan and Tuba disposed their rivals with ease in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup – Benguet Women’s Volleyball League.
Tuba earned the last ticket for a semis slot after Mary Ann Atuban exploded for 25 points – 11 attack points, six service aces and eight blocks, to lead her team past the queen of five sets Tublay, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20, in 62 minutes of play.
Tuba started slow and was down 4-12 but Atuban rallied her team to within one, 11-12, before the 7-0 run she orchestrated came to an end with a service error.
“We had miscommunications in the first set, thus we trailed by eight,” said Atuban, who took top honors anew with her performance.
Cherylene Sabado and Maricar Pilay led all Tublay scorers with eight points a – piece. Tublay missed Ereich Dangbis who came when Tuba was setting for match point.
Top seeded Sablan meanwhile did not break a sweat and even did not need the services of its three best players to ease past eighth seed Mankayan.
Sablan eased to the Final Four with a 25-11, 25-17, 25-17 beating of Mankayan in just 58 minutes of play.
Hanna Mae Dumpit and Jhesalyn Bayao took charge of Sablan’s offense as they scored 13 (9 attack points and four service aces) and 11 points (eight attack points and three aces) to lead the Sablan side that practically returned to its original line-up.
“A little polish and we are good for the semis,” said Dumpit, named the best player of the game.
Sablan came to the venue without league top outside hitter Jasmynne Polon, middle blocker Sheryl Estal and setter Abigail Cunanan, who are still in San Fabian, Pangasinan for the Baguio College of Technology Lady Atoms team building.
Marilyn Julian led Mankayan with seven points, four on attacks and three aces. CEGYCC Release
In the other quarterfinals pairing, Kapangan fought from a 21-24 set point in the third set, scored the last five points and ended Itogon’s fight back to advance to the semifinals with a 25-16, 25-17, 26-24 victory Wednesday evening.
It was a set that actually belonged to Roselyn Suhat who conjured a magic for the Danny Edwardo mentored squad and whose three service aces – her only such – came at the most crucial time of the 69-minute encounter.
Staring at a 20-23 deficit, Suhat’s kill moved Kapangan to within two, 21-23, but Reynae Arances, after getting blocked by Lovely Joy Balagat a few plays earlier, had a booming cross-over to put Itogon within a point of taking the third set and extend the game.
But Xhyrielle Sasa worked her wonders as she defied two blockers to move Kapangan to 22-24.
Then Suhat made the first of her service aces and Kapangan was point down. Another service that Itogon received, set up a waxing Arances which was too long tied the game.
Then it was all Suhat show as she served for the two crucial aces to give Kapangan the set, 26-24 to with the 25-16, 25-17 earlier sets.
“The team I fear the most is out. I thought facing Arances could be a set – back for us,” summed Edwardo in the win that put them in semifinals.
Suhat scored nine points, five of which came in the third set, while Balagat and Victoria Mie Balabag led the squad with 11 markers each. Balagat took the best player of the game honor with her efforts including containing Arances.
Sasa, meanwhile, scored all her five points in the crucial third set all on attack points.
Arances had a game high 12 markers, 11 on attack and a single ace, while Julie Odlos matched Arances output, six of which from attacks, two aces and four blocks, three of which came in the third.
Meanwhile, La Trinidad needed four sets to beat a spirited Buguias side and the first team to make it to the semifinals Wednesday.
It was hard fought 25-13, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, victory for La Trinidad in 101 minutes of action.
Elyzel Nunez and Shirley Balantac made sure the march to the semis would happen as they led their squad which is still lacking one of their strongest players, Stephanie Torres. Torres was present in their quarterfinals match but reported in street clothes.
Nunez scored a game high 23 points on 17 attacks and six aces, even as Balantac had 22 excellent sets on top of three attack points.
Leading 21-19 in the third set, Trinidad looked like they will wrap up the game after trailing most of the way in that set.
“We are happy that we gave them a good fight in the third. I know that they can pull it off and they did it,” said Trinidad coach John Patrick Garcia of the Buguias fightback that bore fruit.
Mya Dione Pawid chipped in 12 markers on eight attack points, three service aces and a block where Heidi Tallocoy chipped in eight markers while Floralex Budas and Kates Gacad added seven markers each.
Eloise Manganip led Buguias with nine markers, while Geneveb Buyagan and Desiree Joy Banih added seven markers for Buguias which bows down of the league backed by Cong Eric Go Yap, the ACT CIS Party List and the Office of Gov. Melchor Diclas.
Buguias libero Judy Ann Halawad had 20 digs in the contest. CEGYCC Release
