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The belles of the Hope Christian School (HCS) successfully reclaimed their throne of dominance as they blasted the Pajo National High School Vipers. 25-18, 25-18, 25-18, to capture the national title in the Shakey?s Girls Volleyball League Tournament of Champions yesterday at the University of Southern Philippines Gym along Salinas Drive in Lahug.
The 2005 and 2006 champions deftly showed their desire for the crown as they wasted no time in repeating over their rivals, much in the same way as their lopsided encounter in the Milo National Finals, which the former also won here in Cebu.
The Jerry Lee-mentored squads set the tone in the match by pulling away when it mattered the most.
The Vipers got off to a fast start as they led 8-5 , early in the first set. However, HCS settled down and started hitting their stride resulting in a 15-all game.
HCS scored four straight points off attacks by skipper Denise Tan, Camille Cruz and Desiree Cheng to lead 19-15. They eventually took the first set, 25-18 after a 6-2 barrage that was capped off by two service aces by setter Djanel Cheng.
HCS did not let up on their attack as they led 17-9 in the second as Tan asserted her dominance above the net with thunderous spikers. HCS? defense was also perfect as the spikers of Pajo were rendered non-factors behind the blocking of Cruz and Carol Cerveza along with the crafty dogs of Rica Enclona.
Pajo tried to catch and sliced the lead down to three, 18-21, after a spike by Gretchel Soltones. But HCS was unfazed as they Tan rattled in three of their last four points to close out the set, 25-18 and take a 2-0 set lead.
The third set was no better for the Vipers of head coach, Fr. Rolando T. Manayon as they went down, 10-17. Once again, they managed to trim the HCS? lead to just three, 17-20 but fell short as Soltones committed a service error that was followed by a service ace by Cerveza and scores by Cruz and Tan to take the set, 25-18, and the championship.
?The kids just love to play. Practice is not hard for them. Also, everybody knows their role on the team,? Lee said after the game.
Meanwhile, the University of St. La Salle took third place honors after defeating Eastern Visayas State University in straight sets, 25-12, 25-14, 25-19.
