National University-Nazareth School in the SGVIL Rising Stars Cup. Handout/Shakey's
MANILA -- National University-Nazareth School kicked off its bid in the 2025 Shakey's Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 1 with back-to-back sweeps, Monday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
Fresh off a gold medal conquest in the Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte, the Lady Bullpups made a statement by sweeping Far Eastern University-Diliman, 25-19, 25-23, in their Pool D debut in the morning session.
UAAP Season 87 MVP Sam Cantada fired seven points as NUNS slowed down Lady Baby Tamaraws top gunner Ifunanya Udeagbala and neutralized her support crew, spoiling FEU-D's bid for an elimination round sweep.
The Lady Bullpups sustained their momentum in the afternoon session with a 25-23, 25-14, victory over St. John's Institute-Bacolod.
They encountered some resistance, with the Ilonggo squad saving a set point in the opener, 23-24, before Jenelyn Jacob secured the frame with a down the line hammer. NU-Nazareth went on to dominate the second frame en route to the sweep.
Cantada scored 10 points while Jacob and Raine Alonzo added eight markers each for NUNS, which will face University of the Philippines Integrated School (0-3) and University of Sto. Tomas (2-1) Tuesday to wrap the pool play.
The Lady Baby Tamaraws closed their elims run with a 3-1 win-loss record and were denied an outright quarterfinal berth. FEU-Diliman will have to wait for the result of the remaining Pool D games to determine if it will advance into the knockout stage or be sent packing.
SJI ended its participation in the tournament, backed by Mikasa, Asics, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo and Smart, with a 1-3 slate.
In Pool B, Bacolod Tay Tung also swept its back-to-back debut schedule after prevailing over Bethel Academy, 25-14, 25-16, and De La Salle-Lipa, 25-18, 25-18.
The Thunderbolts, coming off a runner-up finish in Palarong Pambansa, will face Holy Rosary College (0-2) and Chiang Kai Shek (2-1) on Tuesday.
In the other Pool B match, De La Salle-Lipa (1-1) beat Chiang Kai Shek, 25-17, 25-17, for a 1-1 record.
Meanwhile, Arellano University joined King's Montessori School (3-1) in the next round with a 25-13, 25-15, domination of Corpus Christi School to stay unbeaten in three starts in Pool C.
Inaugural champion California Academy (2-2) concluded its campaign on a winning note with a come-from-behind 21-25, 25-21, 25-22, escape over De La Salle Zobel-A (1-2) in the other Pool C pairing.
Lyceum of the Philippines University gave debuting Naga College Foundation a rude welcome, 18-25, 25-20, 25-19, for a 2-2 mark in Pool A.
In the lone Division 2 match, Miriam College scored an upset over quarters-bound La Salle Green Hills, 25-23, 16-25, 25-20, to keep its playoffs hopes alive.
The Maria Katipuneras notched their first win in three starts while the Greenies saw their three-game winning run snapped to close the pool play.