CALIFORNIA Precision Sports made short work of a United Volleyball League Muñoz Hornets side that played short-handed for the second straight day, 25-7, 25-7, to go 3-0 won-lost in girls’ Pool C of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Under-18 Championships Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

But CPS head coach Dr. Obet Estrella Vital praised the Hornets for putting up a gallant stand with a depleted lineup.

“They’re not a bad team and we praise them for their bravery and valiant effort for stepping up despite being shorthanded,” Vital said. “You cannot underestimate this team—just what they showed against Marikina.”

“Facing a team like them is very dangerous,” he added.

Santo Niño de Praga Academy of Trece Martires City beat Ateneo de Manila (0-3) of Quezon City, 25-13, 25-15, in Pool D to stay in stride with the CPS with three straight victories, while Angeles City (2-1) defeated the Parañaque Thunderbolts Volleyball Club (1-2), 25-23, 25-21, in Pool B.

The Hornets were depleted in half for their two matches during the weekend after a rented van ferrying their players from the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija to Manila figured in a minor crash with a tricycle in Baliuag in Bulacan.

Despite being short of personnel, specifically a legitimate libero and a middle blocker, the Hornets gave Marikina Titans Volleyball Club a scare before yielding, 21-25, 25-20, 25-18.

Vital used his younger players who are no older than 15 against the Hornets of head coach Raven Miguel Fabro in the match staged in the second weekend of the tournament organized by the PNVF headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara and supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, PLDT, Rebisco, and Akari.

“We were able to use our younger players and maintain the quality of the game,” said Vital, referring to the 14-year-old Monic Soliven and Aliah Santiago and Jermien Rodriguez, both 15.

The Hornets fell to 0-3.

In the other matches played Saturday, it was Grace Christian College Foundation (2-0) of Taguig City over Angeles City (2-1), 27-25, 26-24, in girls’ Pool B and in the boys’ division, it was Angeles City (1-1) over Philippine Christian University (0-2), 25-12, 25-13, in Pool B; Hermosa Volleyball Club (2-1) of Bataan over Xavier School (0-2), 25-22, 25-8, in Pool C, and Mayamot National High School (2-0) of Antipolo City over Santo Niño de Praga Academy (2-1), 25-27, 25-23, 25-22. (Amado Inigo/MTVN)