Baby Tamaraws eye SGVIL quarters slot

Unbeaten Far Eastern University (FEU)-Diliman aims to secure a quarterfinals seat against debuting powerhouse National University Nazareth School in the 2025 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 1 on Monday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.

Behind the consistency of high-scoring winger Ifunanya Udeagbala, averaging 12.3 points per game, the Lady Baby Tamaraws swept through their first three assignments in Pool D.

Standing in the way of FEU-Diliman’s bid to complete an elimination round sweep and clinching the top seed in the knockout quarters are the Lady Bullpups, who are fresh from Ilocos Norte Palarong Pambansa conquest representing the National Capital Region.

The much-anticipated match will commence immediately after the Pool A clash between Lyceum of the Philippines University and debuting Naga College Foundation in the 9 a.m. curtain-raiser of a packed five-game schedule in Court 2 as the country’s biggest grassroots volleyball league hits the crucial stage of the race for spots to the next round.

NUNS, the reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion, will have little time to rest after its game against FEU-Diliman, as it will take on St. John’s Institute-Bacolod (1-2) in Court 1 later in the day.

The Lady Bullpups, who have yet to cop the elusive SGVIL title, will wrap their elimination campaign Tuesday against University of Sto. Tomas (2-1).

Last year’s runner-up Bacolod Tay Tung battles Bethel Academy (1-1) at 9 a.m. in Court 1 in the first of its two-game opening day schedule in Pool B.

The Thunderbolts, who represented Western Visayas in a silver medal finish in Palarong Pambansa, collide with the De La Salle-Lipa Green Stallions in their other pairing.

DLSL will kick off its campaign against undefeated Chiang Kai Shek (2-0) early in the day.

In Pool C, unscathed Arellano University (2-0) eyes to inch closer to clinching a quarters ticket against winless Corpus Christi School (0-3) while 2023 SGVIL champion California Academy (1-2) squares off with De La Salle-Zobel A (1-1).

On the other hand, Emilio Aguinaldo College (3-0) shoots for a Pool A sweep and an outright quarters top seeding against Naga College Foundation.