CEBU - Both teams displayed championship caliber performances that thrilled the large throng of spectators to the bones. But when the dust settled, the University of Southern Philippines Panthers (USPF) voleybelles came out sounding the victory trumpet, so loud that it literally shook off the University of San Carlos (USC)-Main gym last night.
In an air-gasping, super close encounter, the USPF belles of coach Jordan Paca recovered from a first set blunder to dethrone the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars in a five-set cliffhanger, 3-2, thus, ending the Josenians’ three-year dominance in women’s volleyball of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).
“I feel very great. Our team up with Mam Datig really worked out well,” said a visibly ecstatic Paca in giving due credit to his assistant coach Thelma Datig, who once steered the Southwestern University (SWU) to various titles in local and national tournaments. “I can’t describe my feeling right now. I’m speechless,” added Paca.
In the decider, the USPF belles were ahead by three points, 10-7, but the crowd-darling Michelle Simbajon rallied USJ-R to a 10-all deadlock.
A thunder spike by Erika Camille Verano and a shot by USJ-R’s Sarah Miculob that went out of bounds towed USPF on top by two anew, 12-10, but a fully-recharged Genie Sabas made back-to-back hits sandwiching her beautiful block to vault USJ-R to a matchpoint, 14-12.
Facing no tomorrow, Cherylou Wave Paden and Verano showed iron nerves in converting successive power shots to knot the count at 14-all, giving USPF a new lease on life.
In the ensuing sequence, Shiela Villeguez caught the USJ-R defenders off-guard and scored on a smart drop shot. With victory within tantalizing reach, USPF did not give USJ-R one more lifeline, with Verano executing a picture-perfect, game-killing spike, 16-14.
USPF president Rolando Villa cheered for his team at the start but left the venue after they lost in the first set. Before proceeding to the exit door, he gave a message to an acquaintance at the stands that they will bounce back.
Villa was absolutely right.
USPF started the game with an 8-5 bang, forcing USJ-R coach Grace Antigua to call for a timeout. Antigua’s wards responded well to her instructions as they countered with a 6-0 blast to grab the lead for good, 11-8.
USPF rallied back to tie the count at 23-all, but Genie Sabas and Joy Bonita closed the game for USJ-R, 25-23.
In the second set, USPF sprinted to a sizzling 7-1 start. USJ-R closed within a hairline, 7-8, but that was the best it could muster as USPF regained a five-point edge, 15-10, and parlayed it to a 25-17 triumph.
USPF again set the pace in the third set, keeping the Josenians at bay after taking a commanding 12-6 lead. USJ-R narrowed the gap down to two points, 17-19, but USPF retaliated with a 6-2 run for a 25-19 victory and a two sets to one advantage.
On the brink of defeat, the USJ-R mainstays somehow made the necessary adjusments and were the agrressor in the fourth set. Their tenacity paid off as they raced to a six-point headway, 19-13, behind the able leadership of Sabas.
A 5-0 rally sparked by Paden put USPF to within a hairline, 18-19. The USJ-R ladies, however, proved they are not grandslam champion for nothing as they staged a searing 6-1 rally to ice the fourth set, 25-19, and forge a rubbermatch.
In the deciding fifth set, USJ-R fought with nerves of steels, but USPF proved to be the hungrier and more determined squad.
It was a sweet redemption of sort for USPF, which yielded to USJ-R in their previous three final meetings.
After the match, USJ-R star players Genie Sabas, Michelle Simbajon, and Cristy Aina Laroga - all serving their last playing year in the league - broke into tears as they tighly hugged their head coach Grace Antigua while whispering a gentle ‘sorry’ for failing to hand over their alma mater what could have been a record four straight crown.
The USJ-R belles may have gone home with wounded pride, but they can still hold their heads up high for playing with their hearts out and for fighting to the last breath, so to speak. (THE FREEMAN)