USC, USPF set up title duel in CESAFI men’s volleyball Lady Warriors battle Lady Cobras for championship in distaff side

Defending champion University of San Carlos (USC) Spiking Warriors had little trouble in terminating the University of the Visayas (UV) in straight sets to advance into the championship round of the 7th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) men’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation gym.

The Warriors banked on the unconquerable jump serves and powerful attacks of skipper and reigning MVP Roderick Arenasa together with the deadly triumvirate of Carlo Tecson, Jerone Maestre and Kenneth Bensig in sealing the first set, 25-18.

The Spiking Warriors maintained their momentum in the second set where they jumped to a blistering 15-3 start and translated it to a 25-11 victory. Compounding UV’s woes in that stretch was their spate of miscommunications and poor receptions.

The Norvie Labuga-coached USC Warriors showed no signs of complaceny as they raced to an 18-7 start in the third set. The Lancers tried hard to make up from their mistakes behind the efforts of Arisjune Getuaban, Jade Becaldo and Wendyl Alcos, but they were negated by the solid defense of USC’s Arenasa and Tecson.

USC eventually finished off UV, 25-17, to set up a title showdown with the USPF Spiking Panthers, who recovered from a first-set debacle to stun early favorite University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars in their nerve-wracking semis duel.

The Jaguars of coach Grace Antigua went off to good start, dominating the first set to the tune of 25-21. USPF paid dearly for its failure to break down the defense established by Loujie Tipgos, Ariel Carumba and Jackie Yrog-irog.

The Panthers, however, put up one big fight in the second set and succeeded in pulling off the equalizer, 25-23, thanks to the gallant plays of Edward Ybañez and James Rivera.

The Panthers then went wild in the third set where they buried the Jaguars, 25-12. Preying on the demoralized Jaguars, the Panthers of coach Cecil Jotojot slowly devoured their foes and wrapped up the match, 25-17.

In the women’s action, defending titlist USJ-R Lady Jaguars overpowered the USC Lady Warriors, 25-12, 25-14, 25-21 to march into the final round.

Among those who figured prominently in USJ-R’s three-set romp of USC were former RP Team Genie Sabas, Jullett Mae Marikit, Aina Laroga, Marissa Lagancia and Michelle Simbajon.

The Lady Jaguars, thus, arranged a championship date with the USPF Lady Panthers, who trounced the Southwestern University Lady Cobras in an easy three-set battle, 25-16, 25-18, 25-18.

The Lady Warriors will face the Lady Cobras at 8:00 in the morning today followed by the fight between the USJ-R Jaguars and UV Lancers for the third place honors.

The CESAFI women’s volleyball defending champion will again meet the Lady Panthers at 1:00 pm, while USC Warriors seek back-to-back titles when it clash with the comebacking USPF Panthers in the men’s final still at the USPF gym. — Marigold P. Lebumfacil, Correspondent