(Dasmariñas Arena)
2 p.m. — Negros vs Quezon
4 p.m. — Dasma vs Biñan
New team Dasmariñas Monarchs zeroed in on a season sweep after making short work of challenger Biñan Tatak Gel Arellano U Lady Chiefs, 25-21, 25-10, 25-15, in Game 1 of the 2025 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) finals on Wednesday night at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
Sam Cantada scored 15 points as the Monarchs needed only over an hour to dispatch the Lady Chiefs for a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three titular showdown of the upstart regional league founded by MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao.
It’s the 15th straight win for the Monarchs and another one at home at the Dasmariñas Arena on Sunday would put them in a league of their own as the first undefeated team in MPVA’s three seasons so far.
And more than that, Dasma represented by NU could add the regional volleyball league to its growing treasure chest in a Philippine volleyball dynasty so far glittered by three titles in the UAAP and four crowns in the Shakey’s Super League.
Also making it happen was team captain Vange Alinsug with 13 points in a steady duty to lead NU’s rebuilding era following the graduation of its core led by the power duo of Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen. It’s no problem for NU so far with anchor Minierva Maaya adding seven points while Natasha Kaye Bombita, Abegail Pono, Celine Marsh and Harlyn Serneche chipped in four points each.
The Monarchs, who swept the Lady Chiefs in the the elims, found their foes a tougher nut to crack at least in the first set with only a four-point gap but stamped their class the rest of the way with a combined 25-point winning margin in the final two sets to shore up their drive for a 16-0 MPVA sweep.
Dasma, in the process, inched closer to giving new mentor Regine Diego her second straight title this year alone ahead of the UAAP Season 88 early next hear after completing NU’s four-peat feat in the SSL since taking over from Sherwin Meneses in the offseason.
Crisanta Servidad had 11 points while ace spiker Laika Tudlasan settled for just five points in Biñan’s tough defeat despite a homecourt advantage before the series shifts on to Dasma in Game 2 and if necessary Game 3 the rest of the title showdown in the MPVA backed by Mikasa, Asics, Spurway Enterprise, Gerflor, Smart Communications and XIV Apparel.
