The battle among the best secondary girls' volleyball teams across the Philippines may be over this year but the recruitment war among top universities in Metro Manila is still ongoing.

At the recent Palarong Pambansa held in Antique, CALABARZON represented by De La Salle-Lipa rallied from two-set deficit and pulled off a come-from-behind championship victory, dethroning the two-time defending champion Kings Montessori School of the National Capital Region.

While the most of the eyes were focused on Region 4-A and NCR even before the battle for gold, some players from various regions also took the spotlight with their skills, attacks, defense, and smartness inside the court.

It came as no surprise why coaches from the UAAP and NCAA schools took the time to fly to Antique and scout for talents they can bring to their respective teams.

Spotted at the St. Anthony Gymnasium in Antique were UST Tigresses head coach Kungfu Reyes with his assistant coaches, UP Lady Maroon chief tactician Jerry Yee, as well as Cherry Rose Macatangay and Angeli Tabaquero of the Adamson Lady Falcons.

According to Reyes, they are looking for additional players for senior high school. Reyes admitted to ABS-CBN News that he saw several promising volleybelles but said that not all of them are still up for grabs.

“’Yung kinukuha namin ay ‘yung priority ang UST, ‘yung gusto talaga mag-UST,” said Reyes, who steered the Tigresses back to the UAAP Final Four. “Maraming nakikita pero ‘di mo puwede kausapin lahat, syempre [baka] someone owns it na.”

Asked what UST can offer to these athletes, “I can only offer a good future. Hindi kami nag-offer ng pangkabuhayan showcase. ‘Di namin kaya at ‘di namin ginagawa,” Reyes said.

For Jerry Yee, he came to Palaro to support the National Capital Region especially its setter Louie Romero, who also won the award for her position. But he also admitted he is scouting for possible additions to his wards.

“Steep ang recruitment war ngayon,” Yee said. “Kung may makikita tayo, eh ‘di bonus.”

Yee also said that he is looking for a tall player.

Cherry Rose Macatangay of Adamson, meanwhile, said her team wants to recruit middle blockers and a setter.

So, who were the head turners in this year’s Palarong Pambansa?

Here are some of the impressive volleybelles who stood out during the tournament.

Baby Jane Soreno, Negros Island Region

Baby Jane Soreno helped her team, the Negros Island Region, enter in the quarterfinals of Palarong Pambansa 2017. Although her team fell short in the quarterfinals against the eventual champion Region 4-A, the 5’7” open hitter showcased powerful attacks all throughout the competition.

No school in the Big City has approached the 16-year-old Tanjay City, Negros Oriental native, but she admitted she wants to play in Metro Manila if there is an opportunity.

Euna Gene Piosca, Western Visayas

Host region Western Visayas surprised everyone in Antique with its impressive run in the volleyball competition, capturing the bronze medal after trouncing Central Luzon. The team gave its opponents a hard time in establishing a net defense due to fast plays, thanks to Euna Gene Piosca, the team’s setter.

Piosca, the tournament’s best server, orchestrated the offense of Region 6 impressively, with her ability to vary her sets quickly, fooling blockers of the other side and giving her spikers wide open attacks. The 16-year-old Grade 10 student of Central Philippine University in Iloilo said her presence of mind and focus in the game allowed her to think fast in every ball possession.

Piosca started her volleyball career as libero when she was in Grade 2 and was converted into a setter when she was in Fifth Grade. She has represented her region four times in Palarong Pambansa.

Kate Nhorrylle Santiago, Zamboanga Peninsula

Although Region 9 failed to secure a quarterfinals berth in Palaro this year, team captain Kate Nhorrylle Santiago, a Grade 9 student in Zamboanga City National High School, singlehandedly carried her region in the eliminations through her attacking prowess even in the back row.

Santiago said that FEU and Arellano University have asked her to transfer to them since the 2016 Palarong Pambansa. However, the 5’8” open hitter declined to the offers. After her last game in Antique, UST assistant coaches talked to her and asked for her number.

Santiago told ABS-CBN News that she is interested playing for a school in Metro Manila but after high school.

Erika Santos, Central Luzon

With her craftily placed shots, this lanky outside hitter of Holy Angel University in Angeles City helped Central Luzon enter the final four of Palarong Pambansa 2017.

While there were coaches who were impressed with how she played in the games, she seems not to be up for grabs anymore. Santos admitted that she has been attending training in coach Ramil de Jesus’ squad, the defending UAAP champion De La Salle University.

The 17-year-old volleybelle started to play the sport only in Grade 7. Santos wanted to suit up for a collegiate team in Metro Manila after Grade 12.

Janel Maraguinot, CALABARZON

Sounds familiar? The Maraguinot family is making a name in the volleyball as the Ateneo Lady Eagles’ Jhoanna Maraguinot’s younger sister, Janel, led her team on top of Palarong Pambansa 2017.

The 5’3” setter made sure that their two tall wing spikers were utilized in every rotation. Janel also said that she wants to create her own name in the sport, saying her position is vital.

The incoming Grade 12 student of La Salle Lipa is still thinking if she will accept offers and bring her talent to a different school.

Lucille Almonte, National Capital Region

Although the NCR suffered a huge upset loss in the Palaro finals, King Montessori School's open hitter Lucille Almonte proved that her spikes are lethal. The 5’7” attacker played in Palarong Pambansa for two consecutive years, clinching the gold last year. She was also named as one of the best spikers in the games.

The 16-year-old outside attacker admitted that collegiate teams are recruiting her but turned them down. Adamson, UST, and NU were among the schools that have reportedly expressed interest in her services.

As of now, Adamson is her top choice, citing her coach who is a trainer in the said university.

Jolina dela Cruz, Central Luzon

The top scorer of the Central Luzon Region is not for recruitment anymore. Just like Santos, Jolina dela Cruz has been with practicing with the DLSU Lady Spikers. She admitted that all but one UAAP school talked to her.

According to dela Cruz, coach Ramil de Jesus first approached her in the 2016 Shakey’s Girls V-League national finals in July. Before she made it to her third Palarong Pambansa in Antique, the 5’9” open spiker said she started attending training sessions with the green and white crew.

Asked if there’s any other school she considers playing for, “DLSU po talaga,” she said.

Alleiah Malaluan, CALABARZON

When Region 4-A was down 0-2 in the battle for gold against NCR, the 14-year-old best blocker of Palarong Pambansa 2017 drilled a series of uncontested attacks in the third and fourth set to help her team equalize the match at 2-2.

Standing 5’9”, the 5-time Palaro delegate and wing spiker of the CALABARZON gave her opponents a hard time. While there were schools that have talked to her, the incoming Grade 9 student said she is not yet ready to leave De La Salle Lipa soon.

Alyssa Jae Solomon, CALABARZON

The incoming Grade 10 student of De La Salle Lipa, Alyssa Jae Solomon, stood tall in Palarong Pambansa 2017. The lanky open hitter of CALABARZON hammered every ball tossed in front of her. Just her presence caused much intimidation for their opponents.

Pushed by her parents and uncle to try the sport in her sixth grade, the 6’1” attacker took home the MVP award in Palarong Pambansa 2017.

But Solomon said she is not yet ready to transfer and take her volleyball prowess to other school.

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