SWU claims semifinal spot in Shakey’s girls volleyball

CEBU, Philippines - The Southwestern University spikers barged into the semifinal round of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Season 12 after registering their fourth victory yesterday in the Central and Eastern Visayas leg at SWU’s Aznar Coliseum in Urgello, Cebu City.

The Spiking Cobras finished their elimination round assignment with a 4-1 win-loss after SWU repelled a hard-fighting Saint Theresa’s College, 25-14, 25-17, to take the No. 2 spot in Bracket B going into today’s semifinals.

The Pajo National High School, which is still playing against Mary Help of Christian  School for its fifth game at presstime yesterday, took the number one ranking in Bracket B whatever the result of its game against MHCS as the SWU volleybelles already lost to Pajo (4-0) earlier.

The Bracket A semifinals seats are already taken by defending Central Visayas leg champions University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars and the 19th Milo Little Olympics Visayas Championships queens, University of San Carlos, who are both toting 3-0 win-loss slates.

The Lady Jaguars and the Lady Warriors were still battling each other at presstime yesterday to determine the number 1 and number two rankings in Bracket A for today’s semifinal round in the event, backed by Mikasa, Asics, SWU and the Philippine Volleyball Federation.

The victory for the Lady Cobras was an all-important win for SWU coach Jordan Paca and his wards as it avoided a complication for the team in its way to the semis.

Had SWU lost to STC, it would have created a triple tie between SWU, STC and Don Gerardo as the teams would have finished the eliminations with 3-2 win-loss records each.

But SWU’s victory facilitated an easier entry for the host school into today’s semis as they face the top team in Bracket A, either of USJ-R and USC depending upon the outcome of yesterday’s game between the two, in the crossover semifinals.

STC finished its campaign in the tourney, which is being backed up by Sun Cellular, Phenomenal Eight Event Horizons, Metro Sports, Nature’s Spring and Radical Ads, with a 2-3 record.

In the non-bearing matches yesterday, the Mary Help of Christian School turned back the Paref-Southcrest in three sets, 15-25, 27-25 and 25-14, while the  University of Southern Philippines-Foundation turned back the Hijas de Jesus, 25-9, 25-11. (FREEMAN)