By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The JB Amateur Volleyball Association (JB AVA) Iloilo Inter-Office league formally opened its inaugural season held at the University of San Agustin Sambag campus gym in Jaro, Iloilo City.
After a successful JB AVA “School Wars” last week at the San Agustin main campus, the counterpart of JB ABL is set to bring another treat to Ilonggo volleyball fans and already began its first few games.
During the first game of the JB AVA Inter-Office, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) swept the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), 25-16, 25-12, in the women’s category.
Ruby Bordon let the NIA attack and top-scored her team after dropping 11 successful attacks while tallying four service aces.
It was a close game in the first set as PhilHealth kept it close with their tremendous floor defense but midway in the set, Bordon and the rest of the NIA spikers snowballed their way and never looked back.
In the second scheduled game of the Inter-Office double-header, the NIA boys continued the domination of their women’s squad and dealt the same fate to the PhilHeath men’s team.
NIA also swept PhilHealth, 25-23, 25-14, to clinch their first-ever victory in the men’s category led by the high-flying Arnel Amadeo.
Amadeo’s clutch offensive run late in the first set helped NIA escape the resilient PhilHealth team who fought hard to make it close.
After the two games, the JB AVA Inter-Office is set to resume the next weekend and will feature 10 more teams.
“Dako gd nga pasalamat akon sa liwat, sa ever trusted trio ko, Verdin Paul Deocampo, Izrah Hernando, and Niel John Dumalag, salamat natabok ta ni. This is just the start of our Inter-Office, damo pa kami games pra sa inyo nga volleyball enthusiasts, thank you nga madamo sa warm welcome sa JB ABA,” said commissioner Jayphet Balbacal in an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.
