MANILA – San Beda University Lady Red Spikers captured the 1st Manila Women’s Cup volleyball event crown by defeating Polytechnic University of the Philippines in the finals, 25-19, 22-25, 25-16, 25-19, at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
Negrense Sophie Cagalawan made her presence felt for the Lady Red Spikers the entire week-long tournament to clinch the Most Valuable Player award and be named as part of Mythical.
“This championship was not just on me. It was a total team effort,” Cagalawan said in an interview with Fastbreak. “Every one of us did our job in practices and actual games to achieve this.”
“The team is hoping that this championship will serve as motivation and inspiration for the entire team ahead of the NCAA competition,” she added. “This will push us to prepare harder.”
Lady Red Spikers’ Andrea Bernal also joined Cagalawan in the Manila Women’s Cup volleyball’s Mythical 6.
Aside from Cagalawan, other Negrense volleybelles in the Lady Red Spikers’ roster are Gwen Bañas, Jermaine Joniega, Jaschryl Casugod, and Gina Espina.
Completing the squad of Lady Red Spikers head coach Edgar Barroga are Isabel Viray, Marielle Teves, Elijah Fernandez, Miles Gregorio, Janelle Bacha, Rea Hadlocon, and Chynna Castillo.
Heading into the Finals, the Lady Red Spikers edged Philippine Christian University in the quarterfinals before ousting their fellow NCAA squad, Arellano University Lady Chiefs, in the semis.
The Lady Red Spikers came from a seventh-place finish during the NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball tournament, winning just three of their nine elimination round matches./PN
