Despite losing veterans, CIT-U looking to make semifinals

FOLLOWING a decent season last year, it seemed like that the Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT-U) men’s volleyball team looked good for this year’s Cesafi wars.

But manpower woes might dampen CIT-U’s chances this year.

The Wildcats learned that they will be without veterans Rolando Ecot, who already finished his degree in Mechanical Engineering last semester, and Alain Arañas, Lourenz Cabunilas and Ghearome Dejan, who were cut from the team due to academic reasons.

It can be recalled that the Wildcats, who won just one game in the 2015 season, gave opposing teams some headaches throughout last season, winning three of their seven assignments to finish sixth in the standings.

This year, the team has extra challenges.

“There’s no notable players (available in the team). I just picked up players who showed potentials during our intramurals,” said CIT-U men’s head coach Armel Cainglet Loon.

Loon, who also handles the CIT-U boys’ team, hopes that they could finally get over the hump as he eyes for no less than a slot in the semifinals.

“We must beat at least three teams to make it sure that we will land on the fourth spot. But we will take it one game at a time. Of course mental and physical preparations are needed that’s why we are very focused on those aspects at this moment of our training,” Loon said.