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Diza Marie Berayo, Mary Nicole Pelaez, and Raine Alonzo were able to win their second girls’ volleyball title in the National Capital Region, against the Negros Island Regional side that lost its star outside hitter Rhose Almendralejo to injury.
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Philippines – National Region defended its second girls volleyball title after defeating Negros Island Region, 22-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-18, in the final of 2026 National Games here on Saturday, May 30.
The trio of Diza Marie Berayo, Mary Nicole Pelaez, and Raine Alonzo scored a lot of goals as NCR attacked the NIR side who lost their star outside striker Rhose Almendralejo at the end of the opening set due to injury.
Berayo finished with 17 points built on 13 attacks, 3 aces and 1 block, while Pelaez registered 16 points highlighted by 12 attacks, including a title-clinching highlight that sent Metro Stars – whose main players are from NU Nazareth School – into jubilation.
Alonzo poured in 14 points as NCR beat almost the same opponent for the second year in a row, while Bacolod Tay Tung High School will represent Western Visayas in 2025, and now, NIR.
“We were a little worried since we were defending the title, but we fished with confidence as a team,” Alonzo said in Filipino.
Things looked good for NIR early when they led 23-22 in the first set before disaster struck when Almendralejo went down with a left knee injury following an attack.
Almendralejo, recognized as the Most Interesting Player, the Best Outfielder, and the Best Player of this Palaro, needed to be stretchered off and not brought back.
The Vipers still won the opening set, but the absence of their best player proved too difficult to overcome as NCR won the next three sets to complete its repeat of the title.
For NIR team captain Brianna Nikola Ang, though, the Vipers didn’t go out swinging.
“We felt sad at first, of course, because we didn’t want it to happen. But I think it happened for a reason and we had to fight for him (Almendralejo) and for the other team,” said Ang, who scored 10 points in the team’s shutout.
Cristina Madele Gale, Jhaennine Mayang, and Memielle Jolliene Letran also put up 10 points each in the loss. – Rappler.com
