University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) teams take center stage in the girls’ play, but spotlight in the boys’ division fall on provincial squads as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) crowns its new Under-18 champions on Sunday, April 28, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
National University and the University of Santo Tomas slug it out in an expected fiery duel at 3 p.m. after trouncing all rivals in their way in similar perfect campaigns thus far.
Over the boys’ division, it’s an explosive battle between the powers from North Luzon and Central Luzon as Umingan, Pangasinan and Angatleta Sports-Orion, Bataan also try to cap unbeaten runs at 5:30 p.m.
UST and NU both scored easy wins in the semifinals to arrange a titular showdown of the annual tournament organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
The Junior Golden Tigresses needed only 86 minutes to trounce Kings’ Montessori School, 25-20, 25-14, 25-17, while the Lady Bullpups trounced La Salle-Lipa, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23, in 86 minutes as well.
Only one will be left standing with an unblemished record when the smokes cleared after the duel between perennial UAAP contenders.
And it’s the same for Umingan and Orion, which take contrasting wins against their respective semifinal counterparts.
Orion made short work of VNS-Savouge, 25-20, 25-19, 25-21, in 76 minutes as Umingan had to battle from a set down to best Canossa Academy, 22-25, 25-19, 25-14, 25-20, in one hour and six minutes.
Representing the Province of Pangasinan, Umingan nursed a jetlag and fatigue in the duel after landing in Manila just hours before tip-off following a stellar championship run in the Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) boys’ secondary volleyball against Ilocos Sur.
