By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Negros ICC Blue Hawks squandered a two-set advantage to suffer a 22-25, 23-25, 26-24, 25-14, 15-12 defeat to the San Juan Lady Knights-Go for Gold in the 2024 MPVA Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna on Tuesday night, October 15.

Chamberlaine Cuñada led the way for the Lady Knights with 18 points, on 17 attacks and a service ace, as they moved up to sixth place in the standings with a 5-7 win-loss slate.

“Unang una po, masaya po kasi nakatulong ako sa team, and must-win talaga ito para sa amin kasi gusto naming makapasok sa semifinals,” Cuñada said in an interview after the game.

“Malaking bagay din ‘yung sinabi ng coaches sa amin [nung down kami ng two sets] para makadiskarte kami sa loob. ‘Yung volleyball po kasi hindi lang siya lakas, kundi kailangan ding gamitin ang talino sa loob ng court,” she added.

The Blue Hawks, which finished runner-up during the inaugural season, dropped to seventh place in the standings with a 4-8 record.

Meanwhile, the Biñan Tatak Gel 1-Pacman Partylist Volley Angels secured a dominant 25-14, 25-17, 25-22 straight set win over the Valenzuela Classy.

Negrense Erika Jin Deloria finished with 14 points, on 10 attacks, three service aces and one block, as the Volley Angels notched their second straight victory for an 8-5 win-loss record.

“Actually, for me po, kulang pa [‘yung performance ko],” Deloria said during her Player of the Game interview.

“We are doing this for our teammates and coaches na wala dito sa game na ito [for various reasons],” she said.

“Malaking factor [‘yung tiwala ng mga coaches and teammates na unavailable]. Feel na feel namin [‘yung presence nila] kasi ‘yung suporta nila sa amin is full talaga,” the Enderun College Lady Titans mainstay added.

The Classy remained in eighth place in the standings with a 2-9 win-loss card./ASC, WDJ