SARAH Lauren Cruz and Ma. Aurora Enriquez, two of the most deadly combination of the Ateneo de Davao high school varsity team in volleyball, have prominently figured in the latest championship rampage in one the city's important qualifying rounds on the way to the all-important national Palaro next year.

Enriquez, the team captain, registered the next highest individual output in the two-game finals with 26 attacks, two service aces, nine blocks but had also given away the most number of errors at 15.

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A second look at the statistics reveal that humble and media-shy Ysabel Foronda is actually the top scorer with a total two-game output of 33 spikes, 18 in the first and 15 in the second game. The whole team was lofty but magnanimous in their latest successful title retention bid as champions. Their recent DCAA win versus the DCNHS was their fourth straight since the year 2006.

Sarah, who exudes strength in action that defies her inherent jam candidness off court, admitted that their hits are only as effective as their set plays, digs and the good lateral coverage inside by the diminutive libero Maria Cristina Dulla, main setters Janice Van Hamoy, Julce dela Victoria and Myrgel Yucamco.

As open spiker, Cruz trades attacking and blocking positions with Foronda, Santos and Enriquez and landed the crucial hits in the recent face off during the finals versus the formidable trio of Flores, Antipuesto and Salmon of the state-owned high school.

The Unit I DCNHS twice-to-beat advantage by virtue of its No. 1 standing in the 9-team scuffle, one week competition of the secondary division was spoiled by the Unit VI Ateneo de Davao which subdued its rival in full throttle during the first and second encounter.

Foronda, Santos, Cruz and Enriquez came out stronger in the following day plastering with brutal urgency the gallant DCNHS team in a three-set sweep, 25-21, 25-18, 25-23, to nail the DCAA championship once more.

Meanwhile, Flores, Antipuesto and Salmon of DCNHS topped the list for the Davraa selection by AdDU coach Carlo Magno II to combine strength with the Ateneo standouts of Mary Mae Tajima, Maria Cristina Dulla, Kris Michal Arrieta, April Diane Sabido, Abi Baluyot, dela Victoria, Hamoy, Foronda, Cruz, Santos, and Enriquez.

The selection is expected to face stiff challenges from the strong teams of Tagum, Comval, Panabo, Digos, Igacos and Davao Oriental in the regional elimination that will lead to the formation of the delegation to represent the Davao Region in the national 2010 Palarong Pambansa.

Expect Foronda, Santos, Cruz, Enriquez and their spiking, blocking counterparts Flores and Antipuesto to see action with all their might in exciting color and play as the other Davraa teams have eagerly prepared for the regional championship even earlier than them.

Unlike the Manila-born Santos, Sarah Lauren Cruz, the Davao-breed is not sure of making it to the NCR and the more glamorous Metro Manila teams not because of fear of slugging it out with the spiking national players but, more so of the restrictions from her protective (bantay-sarado) parents, mother Sara and father Engineer Lorenzo Cruz.

Sports, music vignette. A current hit is fast gaining popularity in the gyms as a musical intro prior to the jump balls. Inside a PUJ on the way home from work and humming the current popular beat "Nobody, nobody but you. Nobody, nobody but you," a young girl in front of me, she must be between 18 to 20 based on the school uniform she was wearing, was staring at me and giggling.

It could be that the international popular hit song by the Wonder Girls was her theme song.

Or maybe it’s my voice or singing style, if you can call it a style. Whatever.

Kapuso Beat: I'll never lose my faith in you. - Roselle Nava version of Lost in Space