Game on Friday
(Arellano U Gym, Legarda, Manila)
5 p.m. – Biñan vs Quezon
Unbeaten Dasma Monarchs moved closer to a season sweep by marching on to the finals while reigning champion Quezon Tangerines lived to fight another day in the other semifinal pairing of the 2025 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) yesterday at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
The Monarchs shrugged off a slow start to drub the Negros ICC Blue Hawks, 23-25, 25-12, 25-16, 25-6, for a 2-0 sweep as the Tangerines forced a sudden death Game 3 with a 25-18, 25-15, 25-19 sweep of the Biñan Tatak Gel Arellano U Lady Chiefs.
Dasma now awaits the winner between Quezon and Biñan, which will go at it once more on Friday at the Arellano U Gym in Legarda, Manila for a finale seat in the upstart regional volleyball league founded by also MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao.
The Tangerines and the Lady Chiefs were the finalists last year before the emergence of the Monarchs as the new force to be reckoned with backed by three-time UAAP and four-peat SSL champion National U Lady Bulldogs.
And like how they lorded it over in other leagues, the wards of coach Regine Diego are looking good to extend that dynasty in sweeping fashion with now 16 straight wins and counting in the eight-team MPVA backed by Mikasa, Asics, Spurway Enterprise, Gerflor, Smart Communications and XIV Apparel.
Celine Marsh, Natasha Bombita and Minierva Maaya connived with 14 points each while team captain Vange Alinsug rifled in 13 points in the balanced attack by the Monarchs, who scored a 25-15, 25-15, 25-16 win over the Blue Hawks in Game 1.
Sam Cantada and Alexa Nichole Mata added five points each as Dasma moved two wins away from a perfect season despite being a new squad.
On the other hand, Quezon flaunted its championship pedgiree behind Rhea Mae Densing’s 16 points with a convincing sweep after a meltdown in Game 1, where it wasted a 2-1 set lead for a 25-17, 21-25, 25-15, 24-26, 15-13 defeat.
Zam Nolasco added 15 pints, Shahanna Lleses had six while Shekaina Lleses and Clydel Mae Catarig scored five points each for the never-say-die Tangerines, represented by four-peat NCAA champion College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers.
Laika Tudlasan, who led with 17 points, in Game 1, was the lone silver lining with 10 points for Biñan, which still sports a shot to complete its revenge tour after a runner-up finish last year in the MPVA organized by the Volleyball Masters of the Philippines.
