USC, Team GGC rule respective divisions in Mayor Duke Frasco volleyball

The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors and Team GGC ruled their respective divisions in the 1st Mayor Duke Frasco Volleyball Open last Sunday at the jampacked Lilo-an gym.

The USC Warriors of coach Eugene de la Cerna prevailed over the more seasoned Lilo-an Designer’s Team in three sets, 29-27, 25-22, 25-15, to clinch the men’s crown.

The Spriking Warriors, the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. champion, are powered by two-time CESAFI  MVP Roderick Arenasa, Edward Carlo Tecson, Jesriel Pino, Kennith Bensig, Michael Alilin, Dexter Tuazon, Bonvie Estrera, Jerone Maestre and Ramil Espinosa.

Behind the efforts of team captain Jhunrey Sasing, the Liloanon spikers tried their best to pull away but were negated by the porous defense of the Warriors. In the final set, the best Liloan could muster was to pull within 15-17 as the Carolinians swept the next eight points for the kill.

In the distaff side, Team GGC brilliantly recovered from lethargic showing in the first two sets to repulse Consolacion in a five-set thriller.

The GGC belles crumbled in the first two sets, 20-25, 16-25, but shot back to life in the next two frames, 25-20, 25-12 to forge a deciding fifth set against Consolacion manned byMarites Natad, Arlene Maloloy-on, Quennie Rivera, Syrel Rivera, Cheche Bohol, Susan Yuson, and Irene Montesino.

In the rubbermatch, the two protagonists both gave their all out best resulting into a down-the-wire battle. Consolacion’s last hurrah, however, was to knot the count at 9-all as Team GGC made a 3-0 run to grab the lead, 12-9, for good.

Among those who carried Team GGC to victory were Janeth Ponte, Jusabelle Brillo, Janez Armie Ygot, Florianne Gutierrez, Kennette Garces, Marissa Lagancia, Elene Pongase, Gwendolyn Gutang, and Kimberly Gendrauli-Dabatos.

On the other hand, Team Talisay and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) both trounced Team Paul Yu to settle for third in separate divisions.

In the men’s bracket, Talisay trounced Paul Yu in a grueling five-set showdown, 25-20, 25-21, 17-25, 23-25 and 17-15, while the USPF belles blasted their Paul Yu counterparts in four sets, 12-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-18.

The champion pocketed P20, 000 each, while the second and third placers got P15, 000 and P10,000.

The 1st Mayor Duke Frasco Volleyball Open was organized by the municipal government of Liloan in association with the Cebu Volleyball Association (CEVA). — Marigold P. Lebumfacil