The Rebisco Volleyball League National Finals promises an electrifying showdown this year, as two fresh Luzon champions join a cast of seasoned contenders at the Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong from November 22 to 25.
University of Batangas and Sta. Cruz Academy of Lubao Inc. earned their places on the national stage with impressive performances in their respective South and North Luzon regional tournaments. They now stand ready to face off against the region’s established powerhouses, including two-time Bicol champion Naga College Foundation and National Capital Region’s Kings’ Montessori School.
These Luzon representatives join the best teams from across the country: Mindanao champions Sto. Niño National High School, Corpus Christi School, and Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, as well as Visayas powerhouses University of San Jose-Recoletos, Linao National High School, and reigning national champion Bacolod Tay Tung.
For University of Batangas, the journey to the finals was years in the making. After a third-place finish in 2022 and a runner-up finish in 2023, the team finally broke through, dominating the South Luzon regional finals. Led by South Luzon MVP and First Best Outside Hitter Riza Drice, and supported by standout players like Best Setter Myesha Zaraspe and Second Best Middle Blocker Princess Ricaplaza, the Batangas spikers swept their competition, capping their run with a decisive win over Sto. Niño de Praga Academy in the title match.
Sta. Cruz Academy of Lubao Inc. took a different route, stunning defending Pampanga champion Holy Family Academy in the prequalifiers before conquering the North Luzon regional finals. Anchored by Best Libero Coline Bautista, Best Setter Micaela Gould, and Best Opposite Attacker Amber Nicole Ronquillo, Sta. Cruz emerged victorious with a gritty performance against Juan R. Liwag Memorial High School in the championship game.
Naga College Foundation, meanwhile, continues its dominance in the Bicol region, clinching a national finals spot for the third straight year. The Lady Tigers, powered by MVP and First Best Middle Blocker Jessa Mae Pauleen Santos, dispatched Mt. Carmel School of Infanta in the gold-medal match to secure their berth.
Kings’ Montessori School, no stranger to national success, returns to the finals eyeing their second RVL crown. With a stellar lineup led by NCR regional MVP and First Best Outside Hitter Paula Palma, the Quezon City squad swept the group stage and defeated National University Nazareth School Team B in the finals to reclaim their place among the elite.
Adding an international dimension to this year’s competition, the Top 4 teams in the national finals will earn the chance to compete in the invitational round against international squads Northern California Volleyball Association (USA) and RVL 2019 champion Nakornnont Volleyball Club (Thailand) from November 27 to 30.
As the RVL continues to grow in stature, bringing together 480 teams from 10 regions this year, its mission remains clear: to provide a platform where the next generation of volleyball stars can shine. With a mix of fresh faces and seasoned veterans, the 2024 National Finals is set to deliver an unforgettable chapter in the league’s history.
