The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) and Southwestern University (SWU) got off to an impressive 2-0 starts to share the lead in the women’s division of the 2nd Cebu Schools Athletics Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Beach Volley tournament at the Inayagan Beach resort in Naga City.
The USJ-R Lady Jaguars of former Junior RP team member Genie Sabas and Michelle Simbajon devoured the University of San Carlos (USC), 25-18, while the SWU tandem of Jessa Satina and Lorie Layno weathered a tough challenge by the University of the Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) to eke out a close 29-27 decision.
Sabas and Simbajon displayed great team effort in completely dominating the match, giving no breathing space to the USC pair of Kim Ybañez and Jeremie Montalvo right from the start.
The Janeth Ponte-coached SWU Lady Cobras, on the other hand, showed big fighting heart against the more seasoned USPF duo of Erika Camille Verano and Herlene Ybarita.
In the men’s division, the USJ-R Spriking Jaguars of coach Grace Antigua also kept their sizzling streak.
USJ-R’s tandem of Ariel Carumba and Loujie Tipgos brightened up its championship chances after vanquishing title favorites Roderick Arenasa and Edward Carlo Tecson of USC, 25-20.
In the other game, USPF’s James Ryan Rivera and Edward Ybañez tamed Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU), 25-9. The CDU belles, however, made up from the setback of its men’s counterparts by crushing Jade Pilapil and Madel Salinas of the University of Cebu (UC), 25-21.
The exciting CESAFI beach volley action will resume this Saturday featuring USC against UC and USJ-R versus CDU in the men’s bracket. In the distaff side, SWU battles USC, USJ-R tangles with CDU, and USPF tackles UC.
In the afternoon session, UC meets USPF and USC squares off against CDU in the men’s class, while SWU clashes with USJ-R, USC slugs it out with UC, and CDU collides with USPF in the women’s division.– Marigold P. Lebumfacil