GUV Cup volleyball Talisay spikers start strong

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City spikers opened their title retention with a two-set crushing of Ronda to book the first semifinals ticket in the men's division of the 2012 Governor Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball Cup the other night at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

The Talisaynons found their rivals from Ronda a tough to customer to handle in the first frame but managed to cruise through a 25-22 victory.

Ronda again put up a goot fight in the second set, but Talisay went for the kill via a 25-17 decision.

In the other group B match, Asturias overcame a spirited resistance by the Bantayananons to eke out a 25-20, 26-24 victory.

In group B, Carcar City barged into the win column at the expense of Moalboal. The Carcaranons, however, had to toil hard for two sets before squeezing out a precarious 25-21, 25-23 victory.

In the women's action, Mandaue City got the no. 1 ranking in group B heading into the semifinal round, while

Catmon is ranked no.2.

Mandaue advanced into the next stage of the tournament after surviving a three-set thriller against the equally-tough Catmon squad.

The Mandauehanons faltered in the opening set, 23-25, but turned the tables on Catmon in the next two sets, 25-22, 25-14 to stay undefeated.

The Talisay belles, on the other hand, fended off the gritty Liloan side in a three-set battle, 20-25, 26-24, 25-14 to claim the top spot in group A with a clean 6-0 slate.

The women's crossover semis on December 21 pits Talisay against Catmon and Mandaue versus Liloan. (FREEMAN)