UNBEATEN Letran and UP Volleyball Club scored big victories yesterday to complete the quarterfinals cast in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Challenge Cup women’s division at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Lady Knights cruised past University of Batangas 25-23, 25-19, 25-23 while UP turned back Parañaque City 25-18, 25-10, 26-28, 25-17.
Letran completed a 3-0 sweep of Pool C while UP caught the last bus with a 2-1 record in Pool A going into the knockout rounds of the tourney supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, PLDT, Rebisco, Akari, Foton and CBPI.
The Lady Knights, under the tutelage of new mentor and former Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro — a Letranite himself — earlier scored big wins over Rizal Technological University-Basilan and Arellano U.
Tied with Parañaque City at 1-1 before the match, the UP Volleyball Club prevailed in a knockout duel to secure second spot in Pool A after its erstwhile victory against the Volida Volleyball Club.
NCAA champion College of St. Benilde topped Pool A with a 3-0 card, a feat matched by the Philippine Air Force (3-0) in Pool B and University of the Philippines (3-0) in Pool D.
Finishing second were Jose Rizal U (2-1) in Pool B, Arellano (2-1) in Pool C, and San Beda (2-1) in Pool D of the 16-team women’s division of the Challenge Cup by the PNVF headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
Cignal (4-0) in Pool A, National U (4-0) in Pool B (4-0), PGJC Navy (Pool C) and University of Santo Tomas (3-0) in Pool D led the cast in the 20-team men’s division.
