For two of the NCAA Season 101 volleyball tournament’s hottest teams, this week’s spotlight belonged to two sophomores who refused to stop proving they belong in the Grand Old League.
20-year-old outside spikers Vanessa Sarie and CJ Dominguito led Colegio de San? Juan?de?Letran and Arellano University, respectively, to flawless runs last week, putting both teams firmly atop their groups in the women’s and men’s divisions and earning the last Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week honors.
Sarie, the top rookie last season, remained as the Lady Knights' go-to weapon after she erupted for a huge triple-double outing of 27 points, 16 digs, and 13 receptions in their 25-14, 24-26, 26-24, 20-25, 15-10 gritty escape of Arellano last March 6.
Before that explosion, Sarie also dropped 12 markers and eight receptions in their 25-19, 25-19, 25-22 rout of Lyceum of the Philippines University last March 4.
Sarie picked up where she left off in Letran's rematch against longtime rival San Beda University last March 8 after posting nine points, eight digs, and nine receptions to fuel a 25-18, 25-18, 25-21 win over the Lady Red Spikers.
Sarie's steady production helped the Lady Knights complete a first for the new NCAA format, sweeping the preliminaries at 13-0 in Group B as they now head to the quarterfinals armed with a twice-to-beat bonus and plenty of momentum.
Sarie edged her teammate Natalie Estreller, University of Perpetual Help’s Cy Almeniana, and College of Saint Benilde's Clydel Catarig for the weekly citation.
But beyond their unblemished record, Letran head coach Mayeth Carolino emphasized the importance of staying focused on the present while looking for ways to improve in the future.
"Hindi namin iniisip ‘yung 13-0, one game at a time lang kami lagi. Kumbaga, parang naipon lang ‘yung panalo pero hindi namin iniisip na ma-sweep namin," Carolino said.
In the men’s division, CJ Dominguito continued to carry the torch for defending champion Arellano, earning his second Player of the Week honor.
The second-year spiker led the Chiefs to a 25-20, 25-17, 19-25, 25-21 win against San Beda with a double-double effort of 19 points and 18 receptions before exploding for 24 markers, 12 digs, and 23 receptions in a 25-19, 19-25, 25-21, 22-25, 16-14 comeback versus Letran a few days later.
Dominguito also delivered in Arellano’s 25–15, 25–23, 25–19 payback win over Emilio Aguinaldo College on March 11, contributing six points along with six digs and 15 receptions as the Chiefs wrapped up the group stage atop Group?B with a 9–4 record.
Dominguito beat his teammate Jiwen Sinuto, Benilde's Rocky Motol, Perpetual's John Castil, and Mapua University's Arjay Ramos for the weekly award.
—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News
