SABLAN ROUTS BOKOD DESPITE POLON’S ABSENCE, LT MANGLES ITOGON, KAPANGAN BOUNCES BACK

December 9, 2024 Community Billboard

SABLAN, Benguet

Sablan remains the only unbeaten team even without top player Jasmynne Polon. Polon was absent, but Sheryl Mae Estal and other attackers took charge and take a 25-10, 25-15, 25-17 win over Bokod last Sunday in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup – Benguet Women’s Volleyball League. Estal, despite sitting the second set, finished with 10
points – seven on attacks and three on aces – to lead Sablan to the 25-10, 25-15, 25-17 victory in front of their home crowd. Hanna Mae Dumpit, the former Cordillera Career Development College player, added five, all on attacks, the
same points Ana Marie Laruan and Jhanel Kate Dawal jotted on the day they took charge of the game in the absence of the Baguio College of Technology top attacker.

The hotshot had to take care of school requirements and so was setter Abigail Cunanan, said Dumpit of her missing
teammates. She said the BCT students have to do some research. “The team need yet to gel. We are not yet there where I could say that we could win it all,” said Dumpit, who works as a CCDC sports assistant. Sablan though committed more errors, 24 unforced and 12 service against the 19 and 9 of the visiting squad. No Bokod player scored in the double digit. La Trinidad, meanwhile, was simply dominating as it beat Itogon 25-12, 25-20, 25-20 in just 65 minutes of action. After a cold start, Itogon fought on in the second set but still fell short. It was the same
story in the third set, and even took an opening lead 2-0, before La Trinidad founded its footing to put the game away.

Stephanie Torres said that it is still a long way for them but they are confident that they could end up second after the eliminations. Coach Jhon Patrick Garcia said that only Tuba and Tublay remain the strongest teams they need the beat in order to get to the second spot. Torres led Las Trinidad with 11 points, four on attacks, four aces and three blocks. Xhyrielle Joy Sasa scored 10 points, eight on kills, two service aces to lead Kapangan to the 25-8, 25-15, 25-16 victory over the over matched Atok squad which relented in 56 minutes of action. It was a much needed win for Kapangan which bounced from a loss at home to La Trinidad in four sets.

“We really need to train together.,” said Edralyn Mangantulao, who served as playing coach in the absence of mentor Danny Edwardo who is in Bokod. Tublay made short works of Bakun as it cruised to 25-11, 25-12, 25-3 victory in just 47 minutes of action. Maricar Pilay proved that he is the cornerstone of the Tublay squad as she topscored with 12 points – 10 attack points and two service aces. Geneveb Buyagan and Sandra Betwing scored 15 and 10 points, respectively, to lead Buguias to a 25-14, 25-18, 25-14 over Mankayan. Sisters Eloisa and Myles Codiaman combined for 26 points for the 25-13, 22-25, 25- 13, 25-19 Mankayan victory over Kibungan.

Pigeon Lobien/ABN