Dasma Monarchs moved on the brink of a two-round sweep while reigning champion Quezon clinched at least a Top Two finish in the 2025 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association on Friday night at the Lucena Convention Center.
A new squad and all, Dasma made quick work the cellar-dwellar Marikina Lady Shoemasters, 25-11, 25-7, 25-12, for a 13-0 slate to further prove its stature as the undisputed team to beat in the MPVA founded by also MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao.
Quezon, at home, turned back the Biñan Tatak Gel Arellano U Lady Chiefs (10-4), 20-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-19, to dodge complications for a possible tie at 11-3. It’s the 12th straight win for Quezon, thus sealing a place inside the Top Two at 12-1.
The Tangerines even sport a shot to snatch the No. 1 seed from the unbeaten Monarchs in their rematch in the final playdate as of press time given a higher set ratio. Quezon absorbed its lone defeat in a five-set thriller against Dasma in the opener.
Myrtle Escanlar and Harlyn Serneche connived with 17 and 14 points, respectively, as the Monarchs needed only 67 minutes to dispatch the Lady Shoemasters.
In the other game, the Negros ICC Blue Hawks eliminated the San Juan Lady Knights with a 25-23, 25-20, 19-25, 15-25, 15-9 escape act and gained an inside track to the Final Four.
Andrea Caparal stamped her class with 20 points as Negros leapt to 6-7 to seal the fourth seed from Pasay, which finished at 6-8. San Juan got the boot at 4-9.
Negros now holds its own fate, needing only to win in its final match against Marikina to complete the Final Four of the MPVA backed by Mikasa, Asics, Spurway Enterprise, Gerflor, Smart Communications, and XIV Apparel.
Abegail Nuval fired 25 points while Eloiza Balmedina had seven points in losing efforts for the also-ran San Juan and Marikina (1-12). Laika Tudlasan (18) and Keisha Alexa Abitria (13) led Biñan, which finished third after a runner-up placing last season.
The four remaining teams will figure in a best-of-three duel starting next week until the finale under a similar format for the coveted title of the MPVA organized by the Volleyball Masters of the Philippines.
Losers of the semis then figure in a knockout battle for the bronze medal.
