Kabacan, Ateneo spikers win ‘Araw’ Grade School crowns

THE Kabacan Elementary School (KES) and Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) shared top honors in the just-concluded Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Volleyball Tournament at the Davao City National High School (DCNHS) gym.

KES beat University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC), 25-16, 25-16 to capture the Grade School boys title while the latter settled for the runner-up honors. The Jose Bastida Elementary School placed third followed by Bago Oshiro Elementary School in fourth.

KES player Roy Herald Duran was named most valuable player (MVP) even as teammates Cyreelli Allhan Pabi (best libero), Olivench John Lagura (best server), Alvin Rey Barros (best setter) and Leo Aringo, Jr. (best scorer) also romped away with individual awards along with JBES's Christian Jay Guno (best blocker) and UIC's Jerico Romano Fandino (best spiker).

The AdDU spikers, for their part, overwhelmed Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Central Elementary School (KTMSCES), 25-12, 25-18 in Grade School girls finals. KTMSCES finished second while Talandang Elementary School (TES) and Don Miguel Guttierez Elementary School (DMGES) grabbed the next two spots.

Faith Janine Shirley Nisperos clinched the MVP and best spiker awards while fellow AdDU mainstays Jyrill Kaye Moskito (best scorer), Clarize Andrea Quisido (best setter) and Geri Adriana Sonza (best libero) also got their share of the limelight. Maria Angela Irigian of KTMSCES and Mappy Udtohan of TES went home with the best server and best blocker plums, respectively.

In the High School division, the Pablo Lorenzo National High School (PLNHS) recovered from a first set loss to beat AdDU, 17-25, 25-16, 25-16 in boys titular showdown. AdDU, thus, took the second spot while DCNHS was third and Mintal National High School (MNHS) fourth.

DCNHS, meanwhile, spanked AdDU, 25-9, 25-19 in HS girls finals.UIC and Maa National High School landed in the next two places.

PLNHS swept the MVP (Jake Ryan Olais), best scorer (Judel Cabatuan), best blocker (Teodolo Dacara), best setter (Menard James de Villa) and best libero (Ian Geldore) titles. Ateneans Angelo Alba (best server) and Moses Deo Quinanola (best spiker) also got special awards in the boys event.
Eden Faith Maturan of DCNHS was HS Girls MVP. The rest of DCNHS awardees were Jarene Mae Salazar (best libero), Rica Diolan (best setter), Glenda Gregg Agang (best spiker) and Lourijean Trinidad (best scorer). AdDU also claimed special awards courtesy of best server Patria Jela Pena and best blocker Jubilee Therese Acosta.

The two-day event was organized by Davao Volleyball Association (Dava) and sponsored by the city government of Davao through the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office. (MLSA)