IT’S A SPLIT

SWU volleybelles scramble to keep the possession alive against USJ-R in Game 2 of the women’s finals at the USC gym. The Lady Cobras won the game to secure the women’s title. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

Lady Cobras win Cesafi women’s crown anew, Jaguars take men’s title

The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) and Southwestern University (SWU) are the kings and queens of this year’s Cesafi volleyball tournament, respectively.

The Lady Cobras won their fourth straight women’s crown and seventh overall after defeating the USJ-R Lady Jaguars, 26-24, 25-20, 18-25, 25-13, in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals series yesterday afternoon at the University of San Carlos (USC) Main gym.

But USJ-R’s men’s team exacted sweet revenge later in the day as it dethroned SWU with a 25-16, 23-25, 29-27, 25-21 decision in Game 2 of their own series to take the men’s crown.

The win denied SWU a third straight championship in the men’s division.

Eventual men’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kent Jay Verbosidad gave her mother a fitting birthday present as he scored the game-winning spike to give the Spiking Jaguars the victory.

“It was my mom’s birthday yesterday (Saturday). This one [is] my birthday gift to her,” said Verbosidad.

Joining Verbosidad in the mythical team are teammates Joshua Potot (setter), Ariel Gabunada (server) and Alastair Gairanod (attacker) and SWU’s John Eduard Carascal (blocker).

USJ-R men’s team celebrates after taking the crown from SWU. (CDN PHOTO/JOHN CARLO VILLARUEL)

In the women’s side, Therese Rae Ramas was named best setter and also took home the prestigious MVP award. But she credited the victory to teamwork.

“We are like a family. We just believed in ourselves. I’ve been here since 2012 and I think the secret to our success is our bond outside the court,” Ramas said.

Ramas and teammates Janelle Cabahug (attacker) and Jessa Semblante (libero) were joined in the mythical team by USJ-R’s Daniella Alfeche (blocker) and Linlyn Torado (server).

“I’m very happy because our efforts paid off,” said SWU coach Roy Ulan, who also won his first championship with the team.

Legendary coach Grace Antigua of USJ-R was also impressed on how the team made to the top even if her players were composed mostly of freshmen and sophomores.

“I never expected us to win the title but we did it,” Antigua said. “I just told them to play their best in the third and fourth sets because our receive was really bad in the second set.”