Panthers boot out defending champ SHS, enters Last 4 of Cesafi volley

AFTER the action-packed elimination round battles, only four teams are left to fight for the ultimate prize in each division as the single round-robin semifinals of the F2 Logistics Cesafi girls and boys volleyball tournaments start today at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Covered Court.

In yesterday’s action, USPF scored its biggest victory of the season so far, by eliminating the 2016 girls champions Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC), 25-20, 25-11 from playoff contention in the girls’ division.

The loss of the Magis Eagles allowed the University of Cebu (UC) to take the last semis spot after having a one-point advantage over the former in the quotient system.

The fourth-seed UC is set to battle last year’s losing finalist and top-seed University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) in the semis at 1 p.m. this afternoon.

In other girls semis pairing, USPF eyes to continue its dominance against SWU-Phinma when they square up at 3 p.m. The Baby Panthers defeated the Baby Cobras in their only elimination round encounter last Sept. 23.

In boys semis action, reigning champions USPF look to start their title-retention bid on a strong note as they begin their semis campaign against the University of Cebu (UC) while last year’s losing finalist the University of San Carlos (USC) battles SWU-Phinma.

The top two teams in each division after the single-round robin semifinals will advance to the best-of-three finals starting on Oct.14.

Collegiate division

Meanwhile, in the collegiate men’s division, the University of the Visayas booked the first semis ticket after stunning the defending champions USJ-R, 20-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-22 while SWU-Phinma manhandled USC, 25-16, 25-16, 25-11.

In the distaff side, UC pounded the Cebu Doctors University 25-15, 25-27, 25-9, 25-21.