The Baguio Lady Highlanders lasted just a bit over an hour against Chery Tiggo on Wednesday at the Aquamarine Sports Complex, Lipa, Batangas, to end their Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League winless in five games.
The 2021 PVL Open Champions barely made a sweat literally as their bench lead the way for a 25-13, 25-17, 25-14 three-set win.
Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Jasmine Nabor, Justine Dorog and Buding Duremdes didn’t bother to take the floor while Mylene Paat only played in the first set and still scored six.
It hardly mattered as Chery Tiggo’s bench, led by May Luna, destroyed the Lady Highlanders in just 68 minutes.
The Lady Highlanders did not have any double digit scorer for this game, making this futility extend during the duration of the entire tournament. Mary Ann Atuban led the team with six points in this game.
The five losses of Baguio landed the team sixth in the six-team inaugural Champions League.
Baguio is represented by Mary Rose Carino, Mariecris Delos Reyes, Shyla Marie Ylarde, Stephanie Torres, Jingle Egid, Mary Ann Atuban, Cherry Atuban, Rhaetia Mae Pilo, Liezette Joy Abad, Liane Karlette Pattag, Biesie Zianen Royo, Alyssa Villasenor, Joan Lyn Maddatu, and Vina Adviento.
Yul Benosa coached the team and is assisted by Sherry Ann Floresca and William Paduit. Christian Villareal was their team manager.
The Atuban sisters also represented Baguio during the 2016 Shakey’s V-League Open Conference.
Ironically, Baguio also failed to notch a win in its seven matches during the tournament and captured only one set, the first against the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons.
November 23 update:
Lady Highlanders finally wins a set but losses fourth in-a-row
The Baguio Lady Highlanders finally pocketed a set but bowed down to California Precision Sports, 25-14, 23-25, 25-11, 25-12, Tuesday, November 23, 2021 in ghe battle of the youngest teams.
The loss kept Baguio winless in four outings. The Lady Highlanders have an average age of 21.6.
On the other hand, the younger, Antipolo-based California have been posting some tough challenges for the elite teams so far.
They produced some scary moments for their wins against F2 Logistics (21-25, 14-25, 19-25) and Chery Tiggo (22-25, 25-27, 23-25).
With an average age of just 16.3 years, they even managed to steal a set against the Tuguegarao Perlas Spikers before falling short in four sets, 20-25, 27-25, 15-25, 17-25.
Casiey Monique Dongallo led California with 25 points. Jelaica Faye Gajero added 16 while Jenalyn Umayam contributed 11.
Baguio’s offense is again erratic as no Highlander scored in double figures in the game. Mary Ann Atuban and Joan Lyn Maddatu contributed with 7 points each to Baguio’s cause. Shyla Marie Ylarde and Rhaetia Mae Pilo added 6 each.
Baguio’s getting a win in the tournament looks bleak as they take on 2021 PVL Open Champions Chery Tiggo at 4 in the afternoon on Wednesday, November 24.
November 22 update:
Lady Highlanders loss a third blowout
The Baguio Lady Highlanders absorbed a third blowout at the hands of the Tuguegarao Perlas Spikers, 10-25, 5-25, and 14-25 Monday, November 22, 2021.
Baguio’s defense was lacking energy as they allowed Perlas to throw down 33 kills and 16 aces.
Jhoana Louisse Maraguinot came off the bench to Perlas with 10 points on six aces. Czarina Grace Carandang and Roma Joy Doromal chipped in 9 and 8 points, respectively.
It didn’t help that Baguio’s offense is as out of sync as their defense.
Mary Rose Carino was their top scorer with 3, followed by seven of her teammates with one each.
The Lady Highlanders now owns the three lowest scores in a set, tallying six in the third set against F2 and 10s against all their opponents so far.
They return to the floor on Tuesday at 1:30 in the afternoon and face the young but also-ran California Precision Sports for the fight for elevating from the cellar.
California also lost a three-setter to Cherry Tiggo but not without giving the 2021 PVL Open Champions a heart attack. They lost all sets on close calls, 25-27, 22-25, and 23-25.
Baguio closes out their campaign in the preliminary round against Chery Tiggo on Wednesday at 4:00 in the afternoon.
November 21 update:
Lady Highlanders in a rough start
The Baguio Lady Highlanders got a rude awakening after being routed by two of the most touted teams during the first two days of the 2021 PNVF Champions League held in Lipa, Batangas.
The Lady Highlanders first dropped its opening match of the tournament, a 10-25, 13-25, and 10-25 three-setter that is also the first-ever Philippine Champions League game, to the Petro Gazz Angels on Saturday, November 20.
Frances Xinia Molina led the Angels with 12 points, three of them coming via service aces. Grethcel Soltones added 8 while Jerrili Malabanan tossed in seven points, including two aces.
It was Malabanan who scored the first point in the tournament.
Mary Ann Atuban and Blesie Zianen Royo chipped in six points apiece to lead Baguio City.
The Angels were the 2019 Premiere Volleyball League Reinforced Conference champions and finished third among 10 teams in the 2021 PVL Open Conference, defeating Choco Mucho, 2-0, in the battle for third.
Baguio then got walloped by F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, 12-25, 10-25, and 6-25 in its second match on Sunday, November 21.
The Cargo Movers pulled away despite fielding star spiker Tyler Marie Kalei Mau and captain Abigail Maraño only in the first set. Desiree Wynea Cheng, Ernestine Grace Tiamzon, Irish Janeile Tolenada and Dawn Nicole Macandili also saw limited action.
Even with the bench taking over the floor, F2 still zoomed ahead 14-0 in the third set before Baguio made its first point of the set.
Baguio engaged F2 in a mini-exchange to push the score to 21-6 but the Cargo Movers scored four straight points to complete the rout.
Kim Kianna Dy took over the scoring chores for F2 with 13 points and getting support from Rose Mary Cailing with seven aces, Mary Joy Baron and Victonara Galang
Mary Rose Cariño led Baguio by accounting for seven points of their meager 28-point total output.
F2 is a multi-titled team during its stint in the Philippine Superliga. They topped the 2016 and 2019 PSL All-Filipino Conferences, 2018 and 2019 PSL Invitational Conferences and the 2017 PSL Grand Prix.
The Lady Highlanders currently has a 0-2 win-loss record, together with California Precision Sports and will try to bounce back in the three games remaining in their schedule.
By Armando M. Bolislis
