USC, USJ-R extend reign as CESAFI volley champs

The University of San Carlos (USC) Spiking Warriors and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Lady Jaguars dispatched their respective foes to extend their reign as volleyball kingpins of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) yesterday at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Gym.

The USC Warriors of coach Norvie Labuga had to go through a grueling five set battle before disposing off the gritty USPF Panthers to retain their men's crown.

In sharp contrast, the Lady Jaguars handily swept the USPF belles in three sets to accomplish a rare grandslam feat in the women's division.

Still banking on the sizzling plays of two-time MVP awardee  Roderick Arenasa and the deadly Edward Carlo Tecson, Jerone Maestre and Kenneth Bensig troika, the Spiking Warriors survive some scary moments before taking the first set, 25-23.

Egged on by the cheers of their fans, USPF bounced back with aplomb in the second set to pull off the equalizer, 25-18, thanks to the porous defensive stance of James Rivera, Edward Ybañez, Godwyne Cañete and Shane Anthony Cordoza.

In the third set, the Warriors again shot back to life to move one set away from taking home the coveted trophy with a 25-23 victory.

The Panthers, however, refused to roll down and just die as they tamed anew the Warriors, 25-20, to forge a rubbermatch.

When the game was on the line, the Warriors wielded their indefatigable fighting spirit to finish off the Panthers via a 15-9 decision.

In the women's class, Lady Jaguars met little resistance against the host Lady Panthers.

The first set saw former Junior RP team members Genie Sabas, Jullett Mae Marikit and Michelle Simbajon displaying great defense and skillful attacks to vault USJ-R to a 25-16 triumph.

It was the same scenario in the second set although this time Joy Bonita, Aina Laroga, and former USPF player Marissa Lagancia were a big help as the Jaguars pounded the Lady Panthers, 25-19.

The Jaguars of coach Grace Antigua folded up a bit in the third set although they managed to scrape through a 26-24 victory to wrap up the match.

Earlier, the Southwestern University (SWU) Lady Cobras spanked the  Lady Warrior in the five-set thriller 25-21, 19-25, 25-27, 25-23, 15-11 to cop the third place honors in the women's division, while the Jaguars  trounced the University of the Visayas (UV) Lancers, 25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 25-24 to settle for third in the men's category. – Marigold P. Lebumfacil, Correspondent