Games Sunday

(Quezon Convention Center)

2 p.m. – Marikina vs Biñan

4 p.m. – Quezon vs Rizal

LUCENA CITY – Bacoor encountered some scary moments before cruising to a 25-20, 27-25, 25-23 victory over Negros in the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) Season 1 Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Quezon Convention Center here.

Middle blocker Winnie Bedana asserted her might while Cyrille Alemaniana and Camille Bustamante chipped in significant numbers for the Lady Strikers, who boosted their chance for the top two spots with their ninth victory in 11 matches.

But the Lady Strikers’ bid for the top two spots, in which they will be rewarded with a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals, is expected to be tough as Quezon and Rizal are on a roll entering the crucial stretch of the preliminaries of this women’s regional volleyball tourney founded by former Senator and MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao.

Quezon is on top with a 10-1 win-loss card while Rizal is behind with a 10-3 slate in the nine-team upstart volleyball league. 

The Tangerines are playing Caloocan at press time for a win that could solidify their grip on the top spot entering their highly-anticipated duel with Rizal on Sunday at the same venue.

Bedana took advantage of the Lady Blue Hawks’ sluggish defense at the middle as she fired all of her 12 points off attacks while Alemaniana chipped in 10 hits and Bustamante added eight markers laced with two blocks for the Lady Strikers, who are composed mostly of standouts of NCAA powerhouse University of Perpetual Help System Dalta.

After posting a 2-0 set lead, the Lady Strikers’ defense suddenly became shaky in the third set with Angeliz Cosme and Gela Lopez catching fire at the attack zone.

Marjorie Orpilla and Jehiel Moraga joined the scoring parade, helping Negros erect a 20-19 lead, much to the delight of a good weekend crowd that trooped to the Quezon Province capital to witness topnotch volleyball action.

But Bustamante quickly restored order, knocking down a powerful kill that allowed the Lady Strikers to knot the game, 21-all.

The Lady Blue Hawks crumbled under pressure as Cosme’s attack went long before officials slapped them with a pair of yellow cards, including one for coach Jessie Barroga, for protesting a call following a long and thrilling rally.

Then, the Lady Strikers scored off a joust for a 24-23 count befire Bedana delivered an emphatic kill that doomed the chances of the Lady Blue Hawks in this game that has Extreme One-Stop Shop Appliances, ASICS, Mikasa and Gerflor as sponsors and MPTV and Outcomm as broadcast partners and organized by Volleyball Masters of the Philippines.

Cosme tallied 12 points while Lopez and Caparal, who didn’t see action in the third set, registered 11 markers apiece for the Lady Blue Hawks, who suffered seventh loss in 11 matches.