Paula Marie Maninang of USJ-R finds a hole in the defense of the SWU Lady Cobras during their game yesterday at the start of the 2016 CESAFI women’s volleyball at the USC gym. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
IN a match touted as this season’s championship preview, the Southwestern University (SWU) Lady Cobras and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Lady Jaguars knew they have to play their A games to prevail.
And what a battle they had.
In the end though, the Lady Cobras proved the more solid squad, coming back from two sets down to beat their bitter rivals, 21-25, 21-25, 25-17, 25-21, 15-10 in yesterday’s opening salvo of the 16th CESAFI women’s volleyball tournament at the University of San Carlos (USC) Main Gym.
Before the game, USJ-R mentor Grace Antigua said they are not expecting to beat SWU. Just give them a good fight.
“I don’t expect us to win. Maka-five sets lang para naay momentum in the next games,” she said.
The Lady Cobras, winners of six titles in seven years, roared to a 6-0 start. But the Lady Jaguars leaned on the solid hits from team captain Jessa Marie Jorquia and spiker Linlyn Torado to steal the openng set, 25-21.
Miscues continue to pile up for the Lady Cobras in the second as they fall to a huge 0-2 hole.
However, the Lady Cobras carried more venom in the third. Motivated by the presence of their former team manager and now National Team head coach Sinfronio Acaylar, the Lady Cobras used a scorching, 10-5 blast to win the third and kept their momentum going in the fourth to send the bruising match into a deciding fifth set which they also won handily.
“I think our fighting spirit got stronger after our third set victory. I’m just happy to win my first game,” said SWU rookie head coach Roy Ulan.
Meanwhile, the USC Lady Warriors squeaked past the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Lady Panthers, 25-17, 23-25, 25-16, 23-25, 16-14.
In the men’s division, the the USC Warriors manhandled the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, 28-26, 25-21, 25-14.