ST. MARYS'S School and Bulua Central School ended their title drought after ruling the secondary and elementary divisions of the 1st XUWVT Invitational Games here on Sunday at the XU gymnasium.
The more experienced SMS lady spikers of coach Ren-Ren Abut never gave a set against the rookie-laiden Angelicum in their best-of-five secondary final.
Star spiker Erika Raagas, who transferred to Corpus Chrisrti School last school year, made sure her return to St. Mary’s this year counted.
Aside from Raagas, her teammates Kathleen Cruz and Rochelle Ganas have improved a lot.
With the combined forces of Raagas, Cruz and Ganas, the lady Fiats thrashed Angelicum in the first set with a 25-9 win, followed by another 25-14 demolition in the second.
But, SMS slowed down in the third set as Angelicum volleybelles gave one heck of a close fight.
Angelicum found Alyssa Barroro as its missing link in the first two sets as she lifted the team with a 22-19 lead in third via killer serves that produced at least three aces.
Barroro was all the way in closing the set, but a return error by Angelicum apparently spoiled the show.
With that, Raagas, Cruz and Ganas were quick in retaliation as they carried SMS to a 24-all deadlock that forced a slide two situation.
From a 25-all, St. Mary’s sealed the title after another ALC return error and Raagas’ unmolested assault to close the third set at 27-25.
Raagas finished a game high 18 points with eight attacks, six blocks and four aces.
Meanwhile, Bulua CS of coach Kokong Pabilona finally had a title to boast after outlasting the SMS baby spikers, 25-12, 25-20, 14-25 and 25-12 in the elementary final.
