By Ricky Manliguis
ICCT
Colleges are still in the running for the Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association
(ISAA) Season 14 women’s volleyball championship as it churned out a 20-25, 25-15,
25-19, 25-20 win over the University of Asia and the Pacific
(UA&P) in Game 2 Tuesday at the UA&P Parking and Sports Building (PSB) in
Pasig City.
Down by a
set early on, the Lady Blue Dragons used their crisp service game and stymied
the offense of the Lady Dragons bridging the second to fourth sets with their
own brand of scoring for the victory and setting up a winner-take-all Game 3 on
Thursday.
Newly-minted
Best Opposite hitter Mandy Villas led the ICCT offensive with 13 points, all
from attacks, including six from the pivotal third set. Christine Angela Del Valle
added 10 markers spiked on eight kills, while Richelle Mae Opinga and Karen
Camano chipped in nine and eight points in that order.
The
Cainta-based squad lorded it over the attacking department, 48-28 while firing
six service aces despite committing 42 errors.
“Actually,
we had an internal problem with the team, some of the players got into
arguments, and that’s why we lost our focus in Game 1. But we were able to
regroup through prayers, church, and team building,” said ICCT head coach
Sheena Chopitea after the two-hour encounter.
“What we
really worked on in our training was the service because that was what we
lacked in Game 1, and good thing it worked. I always tell my players to be
strong on the court and not to be complacent when we have the lead,” she later added.
After
exploding for 19 points in Game 1, season MVP Ica Quisel was limited to just 14
points for UA&P with rookie Karina Gequillana cashing in 11 on eight kills,
two blocks, and an ace.
PWU,
UA&P SKIPPER NAB MVP HONORS IN SEASON AWARDS
Philippine
Women’s University captain Christein Joseph Bonus and UA&P’s Ica Quisel
bannered the list of individual awardees during Game 1 of the finals on June 8.
Bonus was
awarded this season’s Most Valuable Player in the men’s division after
anchoring the Patriots squad to an unprecedented seven-game sweep of the
tournament, punctuated by the title win over the WCC ATC North Manila Skyhawks
in the finals.
Joining him
on the Mythical Six were his teammates Best Setter Juan Miguel Galgana, Best Libero
Javen Bryll Quindao, and first Best Middle Blocker Jan Neves Climaco.
WCC won
four individual wards courtesy of first Best Outside Hitter Danfer Jones
Castro, second Best Middle Blockers Vico Jerard Avelino and John Benedict Yangco,
and Best Opposite Hitter Sugoru Oe. UA&P’s Timothy James Arciaga was named
as second Best Outside Hitter.
Quisel, on
the other hand, brought home season MVP honors in the women’s division after
leading the Lady Dragons to a finals seat. Her teammate Ashleigh Carlos was named Best
Libero.
ICCT Colleges
accounted for three players with awards, among them Richelle Mae Opinga (first
Best Outside Hitter), Mandy Julienne Villas (Best Opposite Hitter), and Best
Setter recipient April Danica HInanay.
Rounding
the women’s division awardees were WCC’s Ryza Gwyneth Reyes (second Best Outside
Hitter) and Zyke Carandang (first Best Middle Blocker), and Rachel Barrientos of
Manila Adventist College (second Best Middle Blocker).
Gracing the
awarding ceremonies were ISAA president Andie Cristobal of La Consolacion
College Manila, board representative Rona Pineda of PWU, and associate
secretary Boyet Giron from MAC.
.jpg)
