National U-Nazareth School ushered in its title defense in a 25-16, 25-14 romp of King’s Montessori High School in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup opener yesterday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
Alas Pilipinas girls stalwart Xyz Rayco led the way with 10 points on six aces and four hits as the Lady Bullpups needed only 46 minutes to score the straight-sets win in Pool A of the 24-team Division I.
A total of 44 teams including 20 in Division II – bannered by foreign guest team Diverse Auckland Cubs – are entered in the biggest edition of the SGVIL, implementing a best-of-three set format in the elims before elevating to the traditional five-setter by the knockout playoffs.
Jaila Adrao and Jhaynna Bulandres backstopped Rayco with nine and seven points, respectively, in a scattered attack by the Lady Bullpups
Kriska Gendap and Sharina Lleses led the fight for King’s Montessori.