A THREE-HOUR journey from Batangas didn’t prevent De La Salle-Lipa from debuting with a bang, escaping with an impressive 25-17, 25-12 victory over the Parañaque Green Berets in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Under-18 Championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

“We’re used to traveling two to three hours each time we go to a competition,” said Aric Uzzaiah Aguila, assistant coach of De La Salle-Lipa which is fresh from a championship run in the Southern Luzon Colleges and Universities Athletic Association [SLCUAA].

“I think our [SLCUAA] championship run last week gave us a big boost in our first game here,” Aguila said. “The players remained aggressive and steady.”

Outside spiker Danielle Kyle Marie Aldovino was aggressive for the Lipa City team, which also drew top performances from middle spiker Vida Dominique Caringal and setter Alayna Rocafort.

“The game was fine, but I think we have yet to play our best here,” Aldovino, 15, said.

Parañaque dropped to 1-1 won-lost in 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.

Technical director Yul Benosa noted the top condition the young athletes have been showing thus far in the four-weekend championships.

“The physical conditioning of the young boys and girls, not to mention their skills at their age, shows that their schools and clubs have a sound volleyball program,” Benosa said.

Besides De La Salle-Lipa, Maryhill College’s players also travel to and from Lucena City for their matches. The Quezon girls are 2-0 in the tournament.

Santa Rosa City scored a 25-15, 25-14 win over La Salle Greenhills (0-1) to improve to 2-1 won-lost in a boys’ Pool A match.

In the other girls’ results, Parañaque Thunderbolts Volleyball Club (1-1) beat Queen Anne School (0-2), 25-13, 25-15, and Santo Niño de Praga(1-0) beat Team Hiraya (0-2), 25-12, 25-15, in Pool D.