CEBU, Philippines - Youth prevailed over experience as the big-hearted University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) volleybelles overcame a suspense-filled showdown with Team Froilan in five sets to snatch the women’s championship of the 1st Sinulog Jiboren’s Cup Volleyball Open last Sunday at the Pasil Sports Complex.
It was a completely different story in the men’s division as the veteran-laden Dindo Salon Xclusivz handily ran over the University of San Carlos (USC) in straight sets to take home the title.
USPF of coach Jordan Paca shrugged off a sluggish start to claim the first set, 25-22.
An inspired USPF belles led by reigning Nesta Beach Volley national champs Ericka Camille Verano and Apple Eve Saraum were even more aggressive in the second set where they raced to a 5-0 start and translated it into a 25-22 victory for a 2-0 lead.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, the Froilan mainstays conjured all the strength they could muster to strike back in the third set, 25-18.
Riding high on that momentum, Team Froilan further pummeled USPF in the fourth set, 25-21, to extend the nerve-tingling finale into its full route behind the electrifying display of firepower by former USJ-R stars in Mechelle Matuguina, Jullett Mae Marikit, Genie Sabas and Cristine Bohol alongside Ivy Abella, Florian Gutierrez and the comebacking Cebu Sports Hall of Famer Grace Antigua.
In the decider, things went even brighter for Froilan as it opened an early 8-3 lead. Froilan maintained a 9-6 edge, but that proved to be its last hurrah as Jovi Avil transformed herself into a one-woman wrecking crew by masterminding a 6-0 run to hand USPF the upperhand, 12-9, for good.
Froilan threatened for the last time at 12-14 as Navaja scored on a powerful attack to seal the deal for USPF, 15-12.
“Our game against Team Froilan was crucial because we’re facing veteran players. My teammates were very nervous knowing the capabilities of our opponents. But we took our coach’s advise that we should give them a fast-paced game because we have a big advantage over them in terms of speed and stamina,” said Verano, who was later declared as the MVP.
In the men’s class, Dindo Salon Xclusivz led by RP Team member Jonrey Sasing met little resistance against its lone conqueror in the elimination round. Dindo Salon prevailed in the first two sets in convincing fashion, 25-17, 25-14 before closing out the Carolinians in the third frame, 25-22.
Aside from the MVP awardee Sasing, among those figure prominently in Dindo Salon’s crowning glory were former USPF standouts Angellan Visoc, Clifford Cafe, Ronald Melencion and James Ryan Rivera and SWU coach Joerem Yu.
In the battle for third place, USC fended off Team Cebu City in a five-set thriller, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-13 in the women’s category, while John Patrick Caylo (JPC) thrashed USPF in four sets, 20-25, 25-23, 25-23, 26-24 in the men’s side. (FREEMAN NEWS)