The Dasma Monarchs trounced reigning champion Quezon Tangerines, 25-18, 25-14, 25-17, and completed a two-round elimination sweep in the 2025 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) over the weekend at the Lucena Convention Center.
The Monarchs needed just a little over an hour to score a repeat win over the titleholders and cap a 14-0 sweep heading into the Final Four of the MPVA founded by also MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao.
Vange Alinsug, after sitting out last game, fired 12 points to lead 11 players who racked up the scoring board in Dasma’s balanced attack, announcing a roaring introduction as the heavy title favorite in its first MPVA season.
Sam Cantada, Natasha Kaye Bombita and Alexa Nichole Mata backstopped Alinsug with eight, seven and six points, respectively, for the Monarchs, who scored a closer five-setter victory in their first encounter.
Dasma, backed by three-time UAAP and four-peat NCAA champion NU Lady Bulldogs, will face the Negros ICC Blue Hawks (7-7) who clinched the last ticket in the semifinals after their win against the Marikina Lady Shoemasters.
The other pairing, both under a best-of-three format, features the second-ranked Quezon (12-2) and third-seeded Biñan Tatak Gel Arellano U Lady Chiefs (10-4), the finalists last season in the upstart regional volleyball league backed by Mikasa, Asics, Spurway Enterprise, Gerflor, Smart Communications and XIV Apparel.
Rhea Mae Densing, with 11 points, was the lone bright spot for the Tangerines backed by four-peat NCAA champion College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers.
In the other game, Andrea Caparal sizzled with 20 points as Negros clobbered Marikina,25-17, 25-7, 25-8 to dodge complications with the Pasay Lady Voyagers (6-8) and secure the last bus in the eight-team volleyball league organized by the Volleyball Masters of the Philippines.
It’s the third straight win — and the most lopsided in the MPVA as well — for Negros to steal the ticket from Pasay, that absorbed three consecutive defeats for its part en route to the exit.
Gelah Lopez and Graciella Libre added eight points each while Jehiel Moraga and Firma Joy Casera chipped in seven points apiece.
In the other game, the San Juan Lady Knights drubbed also-ran Caloocan AM Spikers, 25-14, 25-23, 15-25, 25-18, for a graceful exit at 5-9.
Abegail Nuval and Mary Christine Ecalla joined hands with 17 and 12 points, respectively, for the Lady Knights.
Rhea Manalo scored 13 points while Selene Dagarat had five points for Caloocan and Marikina, respectively, at the bottom of the tournament with similar 1-13 records.
