ILOILO City – Team Iloilo City Sports Academy (ICSA) emerged as champions in the Gametime Sports 14-Under Girls Volleyball League, which ended over the weekend at the Santa Clarita International School Covered Gym here.
Team ICSA clinched the championship after defeating Team San Rafael in three sets in the finals to complete a sweep of their six matches in the tournament since the group stage.
Hitters Mary Den Majaba and Jana Kate Ardales anchored the offense for the squad while setter Jiuliane Marynz Castaneda was impressive with her distribution of the ball for Team ICSA.
Also part of the Team ICSA were Kristen Deraper Silva, Megan Fiel Jerez, Gerzel Rodriguez, Andhrea Nicole Galvez, Gwiendelle Jorque, Jayzel Martinez, Johanna Pagunsan, Juliana Zarraga, Kylie Ezler and Sambymel Angeli Chang.
Team ICSA, which was formed with the help of Iloilo City mayor Jerry Trenas, was handled by head coach Rollie Moleno with Nicole John Lactopo serving as his assistant coach.
Team ICSA swept their Group D matches against Calinog Smashers, Raflyn and ICES to reach the quarterfinals round, where they defeated Sto Nino Sur Elementary School, and later in the semifinals, where they ousted JJB squad.
Meanwhile, Castaneda received a special award from Gametime Sports after the tournament after recording 25 service aces during Team ICSA’s 25-0 set 1 victory against Raflyn in the group stage.
Gametime Sports founder Rodolfo Go Villaruz was thankful to the participating teams in the volleyball tournament, which became an avenue to discover some potential Ilonggo volleyball players.
“To all the participating teams, our heartfelt appreciation for joining. It is always you, not us every time we organize a league,” Villaruz said in a statement posted on Gametime’s Facebook page.
“We saw a lot of potential in this age category and we are excited to see you in the upcoming Regionals, wherein we will face the volleyball teams from other provinces of Region 6,” he added./PN
