HAWAII'S Aloha Region Junior team moved a victory shy of joining Kings' Montessori as semifinalists from Pool A in the Rebisco Volleyball League National Championship 18 and under on Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Antonette Adolfo fired four service aces and three spikes for seven points as NCR champion Kings’ Montessori (4-0) dispatched University of Mindanao-Tagum College (1-2), 25-17, 25-15, to become the first team to enter the semifinals.
“Ayun nga, nagising. Kahapon kasi nga natalo kami isang set,” Kings’ Montessori coach Rogelio Getigan said. “Sabi ko nga sa kanila pagdating sa national finals lahat ng kalaban champion teams so dapat magi-ingat kami.
"Ngayong pa-semis na kami, sabi ko sa mga bata dapat lalong umangat yung laro namin.”
Keaupunilani Kamakeeaina unleashed 12 hits off seven attacks, four aces and a block to lead Aloha Region Juniors team (3-0) past gritty University of San Jose-Recolletos (0-3), 25-16, 22-25, 25-15.
The Hawaii-based spikers need to win against University of Mindanao on Wednesday at 2 p.m. to complete the semifinalist cast in Pool A.
Also from Pool A, Holy Family Academy (1-2) earned its first win after surviving Cagayan De Oro National High School(1-3) in a three-set thriller, 23-25, 36-34, 25-23.
Holy Rosary College (3-0), meanwhile, also inched closer to bagging a semifinal berth in Pool B after taking down New Zealand’s Z-Air Maori, 25-17, 25-13.
Holy Rosary College tied unbeaten Bacolod Tay Tung High School (3-0) at the top of Pool B before the two teams face off on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Malaysia’s Sarawak U-18 (2-2) kept a glimmer of hope in its dimming semis chances in Pool B trouncing St. Alexius College (1-3), 25-22, 25-21.