CEBU, Philippines - The Looc belles completed a grandslam feat, while the Subangdaku spikers shot back to the limelight in the 5th Mandaue City Mayor’s Cup Volleyball Tournament over the weekend at the city's plaza square.
Powered by the awesome foursome of Genie Sabas, Kennete Garces, Mariel Froilan and Jusabelle Brillo, Looc hammered the equally-tough Omapad in straight sets, 25-23, 25-22, 25-21, to snare their third consecutive crown in the women's division.
“We're very proud and honored that we sustained our championship run and eventually got the three-peat. We're looking forward to defending our title next year,” said Sabas, a former star player of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Lady Jaguars.
In the men's bracket, the Dino Aribal-mentored Subangdaku dethroned Centro in five grueling sets.
Centro took the first set, 25-19, behind the sizzling attacks of Wendell Alcos and Ruel Gestopa aided by veteran setter Clifford Café, but Subangdaku bounced back in the second set, 25-21, courtesy of Edward Carlo Tecson, Derick Arenasa, Ryan Fuentes, Mark Macuto and Aldin Potot.
Centro seized back the lead with a close 25-23 decision in the third set.
Just when everybody thought that the win was already in Centro's bag with an imposing 22-11 lead in the fourth set, the exuberant Subangdaku mainstays staged a daring comeback anchored on a 10-0 spurt to trim the deficit down to a hairline, 21-22.
Centro ended its scoring drought to make it 21-23, but Subangdaku swept the next four points to steal the set, 25-21, and stay alive.
In the rubbermatch, the two protagonists again figured in an air-tight battle. Subangdaku got the matchpoint advantage at 14-13, but three more deadlocks ensued before Subangdaku finally sealed the deal, 18-16.
“We did not expect that we would win especially that we were so undermanned in the fourth set. I’m proud of my players because they did not surrender and made it all the way to secure the championship," said Aribal.
In the 13-under boys division, Subangdaku also emerged as champion after it outclassed Casuntingan, 25-12, 25-18, with Troy Merth Aribal romping off with the MVP honors. (FREEMAN)