NCR reclaims Palaro volleyball gold, denies Western Visayas’ 3-peat bid

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

The girls of NU Nazareth School power NCR to a methodical sweep of Western Visayas' Bacolod Tay Tung High School as the Metro Stars reign in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa secondary girls' volleyball competition

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines – National Capital Region turned a highly anticipated clash for the 2025 Palarong Pambansa secondary girls’ volleyball gold medal into a one-sided affair. 

Refusing to settle for another runner-up finish, NCR reclaimed the title and denied Western Visayas’ three-peat bid after a methodical 25-12, 25-14, 25-8 sweep in the finale at the jam-packed PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Bacarra here on Friday, May 30. 

Samantha Cantada and Harlyn Serneche showed the way as the girls of NU Nazareth School brought the crown back to NCR, which last ruled the Palaro in 2019 when the likes of UAAP stars Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Vange Alinsug were still playing.

Cantada finished with 13 points built on 11 attacks and 2 blocks, while Serneche produced 12 points off 8 attacks, 3 aces, and 1 block in an unprecedented romp of a Western Visayas side represented by Bacolod Tay Tung High School. 

“After two consecutive years that Tay Tung won the Palaro, NCR wanted to be on top again,” said NU head coach Karl Dimaculangan in Filipino. 

Demolished in the opening set, Western Visayas showed signs of life in the second frame as it trailed 12-14 after an ace by star Rhose Viane Almendralejo, only to witness NCR go on an 11-2 blast for a commanding 2-0 set advantage.

Smelling blood, NCR finished off Western Visayas in a swift third set that encapsulated its supremacy for the entire Palaro, with the Metro Stars bagging the gold medal without dropping a match.

Denesse Daylisan supplied 8 points, while Ysabella Patricia Cruz and Rihanna Cris Navarro added 5 points each in the victory.

It was redemption for NU Nazareth School after it lost the 2023 title in Marikina City to Tay Tung, which repeated in 2024 by beating the representatives of FEU Diliman in Cebu City. 

But Dimaculangan said his wards had no axe to grind against Western Visayas. 

“Our focus was to win the finals,” said Dimaculangan.

Almendralejo, who earned the Best Outside Hitter honors after leading the tournament with 91 points, got limited to just 6 points.

Palaro fan favorite Brianna Nikola Ang had 2 points in the loss. – Rappler.com