The University of Santo Tomas Junior Golden Tigresses survived a tough challenge from St. John’s Institute-Bacolod, 25-20, 27-29, 25-19, in Division 1 of the 2025 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Wednesday at the La Salle Green Hills gym.
Kimberly Rubin finished with 12 points to be named MVP of the match as the Junior Golden Tigresses tied the Far Eastern University-Diliman Lady Baby Tamaraws on top of Pool D with a 1-0 win-loss slate.
“It was really a tough challenge for us, but good thing we were able to recover in the third set and capture this victory,” Rubin said after the game.
The Lady Baby Tamaraws, on the other hand, secured a 25-9, 25-12 dismantling of the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Fighting Maroons.
Ifunanya Udaegbala had seven points off six attacks and one kill block, while Aleah Devosora and Aliah Ona backed her up with six points each for the Lady Baby Tamaraws.
In Pool B, the Chiang Kai Shek College Blue Dragons blasted the Bethel Academy, 25-15, 25-22, behind Shamira Pantoja’s 11-point explosion, all from attacks.
The Lyceum of the Philippines University Junior Lady Pirates and Arellano University Lady Braves also hurdled their respective opening day assignments.
The Junior Lady Pirates swept the University of Perpetual Help Junior Lady Altas, 25-18, 25-21, in Pool A, while the Lady Braves survived dangerous Kings’ Montessori School, 25-19, 16-25, 27-25, in Pool C.
Meanwhile, La Salle Green Hills Greenies and Domuschula International School (DIS) score contrasting debut victories in their respective pools in Division 2.
The Greenies demolished Assumption College-San Lorenzo in straight sets, 25-13, 25-11, for a rousing start in Pool E, while DIS clawed back from a set down before pulling off a 13-25, 25-20, 29-27 triumph over gritty St. Theresa-Quezon City in Pool F.
