NCR spoils Bacolod’s three-peat bid to reclaim Palaro HS volleyball crown

ILOCOS NORTE - National Capital Region (NCR) is once again the queen of Palarong Pambansa secondary girls volleyball after dethroning Bacolod, 25-12, 25-14, 25-8 on Friday.

NCR, made up of National University Nazareth School players, denied Bacolod a three-peat bid behind former Adamson standout Sam Cantada. 

Cantada, the UAAP Season 87 girls volleyball MVP, poured in 13 points anchored on 11 attacks and two blocks while Harlyn Serneche chipped in 12 markers as NCR reclaimed the throne, winning its first title since 2019. 

"First time ko mag-Palaro at malaking bagay na naibalik namin 'yung championship sa NCR," NCR head coach Karl Dimaculangan said after the three-set victory. 

"Siguro ang motivation ay after ng two consecutive years na Bacolod, siguro 'yun 'yung motivation ng NCR na makabalik sa top ng secondary girls volleyball."

It was a show of force right from the get-go for the hungry NCR side with the wards of Dimaculangan racing to a massive 21-10 lead in the opening frame before middle blocker Ysabella Cruz punctuated Set 1 with a quick attack, 25-12. 

Bacolod, bannered by Tay Tung High School, kept it close early in the second set as they forced a 9-all deadlock. But NCR flaunted its mighty net defense, unleashing four blocks as part of a massive 10-3 rampage that turned the game into a 19-12 affair. 

A one-two play from Rihanna Navarro delivered the set point while a miscommunication from Bacolod saw NCR taking a 2-0 set advantage. 

NCR ultimately took the fight out of Bacolod when Denesse Daylisan soared from the left wing to make it a 16-5 cushion before Cantada went for the cross-court hammer for a 23-8 lead. 

Serneche unleashed a killer from the opposite side before the lefty Cantada finished it off from the open, ending the two-year reign of the Bacolod powerhouse. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News