The St. John’s Institute Falcons stamped its class in high school volleyball during the recently concluded 3rd Mayor Gerry M. Rojas Invitational Women’s One-Day-League Volleyball Competition by trouncing the University of St. La Salle Lady Stingers at the Murcia Gym last Saturday, November 29.
Fresh from being crowned champion last November 23 of the 17U ODL Prime Volleyball Club Tournament 2nd Season, the Gabrielle Yanson-led SJI Falcons surged to a commanding 16-3 lead early in the game, and controlled the tempo in the race-to-40 points championship game.
Nicolei Galvan and the Lady Stingers valiantly struggled to catch up throughout the game, but they fell short and were subdued 25-40 by the SJI Falcons. USLS settled for second place honors.
The battle for third place was hotly contested between the Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts and the University of Negros Occidental- Recoletos Lady Rams.
The Thunderbolts posted an early 12-6 lead in the race-to-30 points, but the Lady Rams found their composure and scored five unanswered points to close the gap, 11-12. The Thunderbolts regrouped and took control of the game at 19-13, but the stubborn Lady Rams fought to a 19-19 tie.
The two teams battled neck-to-neck and exchanged leads in the next sequences, until the Lady Rams pulled ahead, 28-24. The Thunderbolts came within two points, 27-29, but the Lady Rams were unperturbed, closing the game at 30-27. UNO-R, which played catch up for most of the game, ended up bagging third place.
Other participating teams included the host team of the Municipality of Murcia, Talisay City, Madeleine Academy – Hinigaran, Calvary Baptist Academy of Pontevedra and Team Vipers Volleybelles.
The tournament was part of the pre-festival activities for Murcia’s 30th Tinabuay Festival which kicks off December 4 and culminates December 8, the feast day of the town’s patroness and the 165th Patronal Fiesta of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish.*
