BY ABBY TORALBA
QUEZON City whipped ICC-Caloocan City Bluehawks 27-25, 25-18, 25-17 yesterday to launch its bid on a high in the PNVF Champions League women’s division at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Open spiker Judith Abil led the Lady Vikings with 15 points, while skipper Justine Dorog added eight markers.
Bernadette Flora and Avril Bron finished with six points each, while Sheeka Espinosa contributed five kills for Quezon City.
Even after taking the first two sets, the Lady Vikings kept their guns blazing in the third frame and led 14-10.
ICC-Caloocan City cut the lead to 14-15, but Quezon City surged ahead anew 21-16 after a Dorog kill.
In the second match, Imus City-AJAA scored a 21-25, 25-12, 25-23, 25-16 victory over University of Batangas-Batangas City.
Juliet Catindig powered Imus City-AJAA with 12 points, while Monica Guibao had 10 markers.
Bien Juanillo and Alexandra Rafael also combined for 18 points for Imus City-AJAA.
Kylie Macatangay and Crissel Bando fired 14 and nine kills, respectively, for Lady Brahmans.
Abil’s three straight service aces brought the Lady Vikings to match point 24-16 before Espinosa sealed the deal.
Ednelle Maniquis paced ICC-Caloocan City with eight points, while Christine Apan and Gelah Lopez had four markers apiece.
In men’s action on opening day last Saturday, Nico Almendras and Kenry Malinis each had 11 points as National University-Pasay opened its campaign with a 25-19, 25-20, 25-22 romp of One Bulacan Republicans in Pool B.
Cignal, with Marck Espejo leading the charge with 18 points, also set in motion its title aspirations with 22-25, 25-12, 25-15, 25-17 conquest of VNS-Quezon City in Pool A.
In the other Pool B match, Pikit North Cotabato AMC G Spikers overcame a second set loss to beat Imus City-AJAA Spikers, 25-22, 20-25, 25-20, 25-18.
Basilan Tennun Spikers and PGJC Navy later joined Cignal for the early Pool A lead with victories of AIP Benguet.
The Mindanao-based side scored a 25-17, 25-23, 25-19 victory over their counterparts from Northern Luzon. The Sea Lions pinned Benguet a second straight loss with a 25-13, 25-16, 20-25, 25-22, in the nightcap.
Pool C action saw TARAG-Lolek Bacolod outlast Santa Rosa City, 23-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-18, 15-10, and Baguio City turning back Army-Taguig City, 25-23, 28-26, 25-19.
