UST, PVA open SSL Juniors Nat’l Invitationals with gritty wins 

Banking on their offense prowess, the Golden Tigresses dismantled Arellano University (AU) Highschool with a lopsided 25–16, 25–12 victory to commence their tourney campaign.

The revamped UST squad retained its championship form in Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitationals League (SVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 1, cruising to a straight-sets victory for their first win.

Setter Andreaj Tan Chun Bing spearheaded the Kungfu Reyes-mentored crew with her 11 excellent sets and three aces to bag the MVP nod.

The España-rooted belles built a commanding 20–7 cushion in the second canto off AU’s errors, with Anneli Manzanillo and Kaite Cruz combining to stretch the lead to 15.

Though the Baby Chiefs managed to save a match point behind a Cassandra Paralejas’ attack, a costly service error handed the Tigresses the win.

Nina Cahanap and Paralejas became the lifeline for the Legarda-based squad after just being limited with one-digit outputs.

UST will take a break from the action before setting its eyes on Perfect Set Dreammakers (PSD) on July 13 at the same venue.

Lea lifts PVA past Ateneo

Meanwhile, Lea Aromin powered PVA and brave early torrential rains from the Pusong Azuls of Ateneo in a hard-fought three-set opener, 25–23, 17–25, 15–7. 

Aromin bolstered the Guam-based squad’s offense after stuffing up 18 points built on 12 attacks and six aces, as Landen Devera backstopped with 11 markers.

After the Azuls forced a decider, PVA grinded back with a 10–1 blitz including Aromin’s four pivotal aces as Devera put up the finishing touches with an attack.

The victory set up PAV’s next matchup against the Baby Chiefs later in the tournament.