Dasma nears sweep; Quezon stays alive

Unbeaten Dasmariñas moved closer to a season sweep by marching on to the finals while reigning champion Quezon lived to fight another day in the other semifinal pairing of the 2025 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) yesterday at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

The Monarchs shrugged off a slow start to drub Negros, 23-25, 25-12, 25-16, 25-6, for a 2-0 sweep while the Tangerines forced a sudden death Game 3 with a 25-18, 25-15, 25-19 sweep of Biñan.

Dasmariñas now awaits the winner between Quezon and Binan, which will go at it once more on Friday at the Arellano University Gym in for a finale seat in the upstart regional volleyball league.

The Tangerines and the Lady Chiefs were the finalists last year before the emergence of the Monarchs as the new force to be reckoned with backed by three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines and four-peat Shakey’s Super League champion National University.

And like how they lorded it over in other leagues, the wards of coach Regine Diego are looking good to extend that dynasty in sweeping fashion with now 16 straight wins and counting in the eight-team league.

Celine Marsh, Natasha Bombita and Minierva Maaya connived with 14 points each while team captain Vange Alinsug rifled in 13 points in the balanced attack by the Monarchs, who scored a 25-15, 25-15, 25-16 win over the Blue Hawks in Game 1.

Sam Cantada and Alexa Nichole Mata added five points each as Dasmariñas moved two wins away from a perfect season despite being a new squad.

On the other hand, Quezon flaunted its championship pedigree behind Rhea Mae Densing’s 16 points with a convincing sweep after a meltdown in Game 1, where it wasted a 2-1 set lead for a 25-17, 21-25, 25-15, 24-26, 15-13 defeat.

Zam Nolasco added 15 points, Shahanna Lleses had six while Shekaina Lleses and Clydel Mae Catarig scored five points each for the never-say-die Tangerines, represented by four-peat National Collegiate Athletic Association champion College of Saint Benilde.

Laika Tudlasan, who led with 17 points, in Game 1, was the lone silver lining with 10 points for Binan, which still sports a shot to complete its revenge tour after a runner-up finish last year in the MPVA organized by the Volleyball Masters of the Philippines.