AGUSAN DEL SUR, Philippines – National Capital Region defended its secondary girls’ volleyball title after conquering Negros Island Region, 22-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-18, in the final of the 2026 Palarong Pambansa here on Saturday, May 30.

The trio of Diza Marie Berayo, Mary Nicole Pelaez, and Raine Alonzo shouldered the scoring load as NCR pounced on an NIR side that lost star outside hitter Rhose Almendralejo late in the opening set due to an injury.

Berayo finished with a game-high 17 points built on 13 attacks, 3 aces, and 1 block, while Pelaez registered 16 points highlighted by 12 attacks, including the title-clinching hit that sent the Metro Stars — whose core players are mostly from NU Nazareth School — into jubilation.

Alonzo supplied 14 points as NCR beat practically the same opponent for the second straight year, with Bacolod Tay Tung High School representing Western Visayas in 2025, and now, NIR.

“We were a bit nervous since we were defending the crown, but we pulled it off with confidence as a team,” said Alonzo in Filipino.

Things looked bright for NIR early on as it led 23-22 in the first set before tragedy struck when Almendralejo went down with an apparent left knee injury following an attack.

Almendralejo, recognized as the Most Impressive Player, Best Outside Hitter, and Best Server of this Palaro, needed to be stretchered out of the court and never returned.

The Vipers still won the opening set, but the absence of their best player proved too much to overcome as NCR won the next three sets to complete its title repeat.

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For NIR team captain Brianna Nikola Ang, though, the Vipers did not go out without swinging.

“We felt sad at first, of course, because we did not wish for it happen. But I think it happened for a reason and we just had to fight it out also for her (Almendralejo) and for the rest of the team,” said Ang, who tallied a team-high-tying 10 points.

Cristina Madele Gale, Jhaennine Mayang, and Memielle Jolliene Letran also put up 10 points each in the loss. – Rappler.com

MEDAL TALLY: Palarong Pambansa 2026

NCR retains Palaro volleyball crown as NIR loses Almendralejo to injury