CAGAYAN de Oro National High School (CDONHS) Tigresses surprised everyone in the field by ruling the 2018 Rebisco Volleyball 18-under girls Northern Mindanao eliminations on May 19 at the Nazareth gym in Cagayan de Oro City.
City High Tigresses copped the title after outlasting defending champion Iligan National High School via a deciding fifth set.
It was such a daunting challenge for the Tigresses who fought hard and managed to bail themselves out from the jaws of defeat.
Iligan drew first blood with a 25-19 win in the first set and followed it up with another 25-22 victory in the second set.
Iligan was about to close the match with a broom in hand after holding a commanding 16-8 lead in the third frame when suddenly—it collapsed.
A 10-2 run anchored by Ella Mae Cajilla pulled City High to an 18-all deadlock en route to claiming the set at 25-22.
The same happened in the next set when Iligan surged to a 14-8 spread behind the solid performance of Martha Raagas who made two quick attacks and two blocks off the first half of the fourth set.
But Iligan could not not sustain the momentum as it faltered again, thus allowing City High to unleash a 17-4 bubble and tied the match at 2-2 going to the deciding fifth set.
“I think we had relax in the third and fourth. We had relax,” said Martha’s cousin Erika Raagas, one of Cagayan de Oro’s cream of the crop and Iligan’s import along with her cousin.
In the final set, the Tigresses were all pumped up with Charisse Mae Roska leading the charge to dump Iligan, 15-4 for the crown.
Iligan settled for second place, while Bukidnon National High School and Corpus Christi School landed at third and fourth places, respectively.
City High, a virtual nobody in previous episodes of Shakey’s Volleyball—now Rebisco Volleyball—is now a potent team under the good program and
tutelage of coach and lawyer Cancio "Pogi" Guibone.
Cajilla was named most valuable player and second best outside attacker, while Roska became the league’s second best middle blocker.
Martha Raagas was adjudged first best middle blocker with her cousin Erika the first best outside attacker.
Awarded as best opposite attacker was Meralin Digang, while Mareen Owendon and April Cabanero were named best setter and best libero, respectively.