CALABARZON volleybelles finish third in PRISAA Nat’ls
The Region IV-A volleybelles refused to exit the Private Schools Athletics Association (PRISAA) – Nationals without grabbing a place in the league as they ranked third in their battle against Region VII, 3-1, on May 24 at the Matina Campus, University of Mindanao (UM), Davao City.
Starting their nationals journey with undeniable power, the CALABARZON athletes nabbed their first win with a sweep, 25-23, 25-15, 25-20, against Region III, and continued to extend their volleyball prowess in the quarter finals as they pounded Region VII volleybelles with another easy 3-0 record, 28-26, 25-18, 25-23.
Experiencing excitement and pressure all at the same time, the Patriot-infused Region IV-A tasted their first defeat and dropped the chance to grab the championship crown for the PRISAA tourney as they battled for second place against Region XI.
Region IV-A smoothly seized the first and second sets of their game, 25-19 and 25-11, respectively, but Region XI snatched the third canto, 16-25, and continued their momentum in the fourth and fifth sets,18-25 and 6-15, respectively.
Region IV-A’s head coach Vic Carranza expressed his sentiments on the Lady Spikers’ defeat. “Hindi masasabing mali [‘yong ginawa ng players] kasi parang nagkaroon ng mental block ‘yong players e. Napre-pressure tapos pagod na sila kaya may mental lapses.”
Even after enduring their first loss of the tourney, the CALABARZON lady spikers kept their heads high and confidently faced Region VII for the second time for the battle for third place. The Central Visayas players earned the opening canto with a thrilling 21-25 set score, yet Region IV-A bounced back in the second set and reciprocated the first quarter score in their favor, 25-21.
Proving their dominance in the court, Region IV-A continued to hold the lead up to the third set as Region VII unfolded the set, 2-0, yet CALABARZON quickly answered with Patriot rookie Jubilee Anne Del Rosario’s two service aces, 2-all.
Toughening both their defensive and offensive strategies, the two squads were able to tie the scores at the same pace throughout the thrilling match, 15-all but Region IV-A turned their opponents’ errors and miscommunications to their advantage, 17-15, and leveled up to maintain their bout’s progress, 25-21.
The teams retaliated and exchanged heavy-duty moves that stretched the nerve-racking match but the CALABARZON ladies cut the Central Visayas’ hope and closed the fourth and last set’s curtains, 25-20, eventually capturing the bronze for the Region IV-A haul.
“‘Yong battle for third, nagkaroon [kami] ng pagbabago sa strategy. ‘Yong pagbabagong ‘yon, nag-click naman kaya gumanda ang laro nila (Region IV-A volleybelles),” coach Vic shared on how they knocked down Region VII and secured a place in the Nationals meet.
After gaining triumph with their bronze, Coach Vic shared that the team’s top priority at the moment is recruitment for the following academic year 2019-2020. “Magkakaroon kami ng revamping. Maski na may hard training, iba pa rin ‘yong malalaki (matatangkad) ‘yong players. Kung maaaprubahan ng recruitment program, magbibigay kami ng 100% sa mga bata para makakuha kami ng [recruit na may] competitive height. Kung mabibigyang pansin ng school, mas okay.”
