Pons, Gequillana lead Western Visayas in volley win

PON-STOPPABLE. Pons fired rockets into Region 3's defense. Photo by Rappler/Roy Secretario.

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines -- It was another slow start for Western Visayas. But once they got their engines running, there was no stopping the 2012 runners-up.

UAAP-bound spikers Kim Gequillana and Bernadeth Pons took turns in clobbering Central Luzon as Region VI won, 25-20, 25-16, in their first 2013 Palarong Pambansa outing at the Foundation University Gym here.

Gequillana scored 7 of her 11 points in the opening set as Western Visayas overcame more than half-a-dozen service errors to take it by a slim margin.

In the second set, it was Pons who displayed her skill and strength, serving up powerful jump serves that sent Region III's offense off-balance.

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Pons wounded up with 11 points while junior Arielle Estranero added 9 markers -- all from attacks -- as the 2009 and 2011 champions set into motion their bid to return to the top of girls volleyball.

Arriane Layug and Klarisa Abriam paced Central Luzon with 5 and 4 points, respectively.

In other matches, Ilocos Region, sans 2012 scoring machine Aiko Urdas, defeated Eastern Visayas in a tight game, 25-23, 24-26, 25-21 while Northern Mindanao and Zamboanga disposed their opponents easily winning against CAR, 25-13, 25-18 and Cotabato, 25-22, 25-20, respectively. - Rappler.com