Ana Marie Cuerbo of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) tears the triple defense futilely put up by the Southwestern University Baby Cobras during the deciding Game 3 of the Cesafi girls volleyball championship on Saturday at the University of San Carlos Main gymnasium.
.(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) girls’ volleyball team is a bunch of imperfect individuals.
But on Saturday afternoon, they wrote the most perfect championship story.
This after the Baby Panthers overcame a 1-0 series deficit to pull off a come-from-behind 23-25, 25-15, 25-12, 25-23 victory over the fancied Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma to claim their 11th F2 Logistics Cesafi girls volleyball title at the University of San Carlos (USC) Main Gym.
USPF which missed the playoffs for three consecutive years after winning the title from 2001 to 2010, had to make a huge adjustment heading into this season by acquiring head coach Yolanda Rizarri last December.
The signing of Rizarri turned out to be what the team needed as she went on to steer USPF back to their powerhouse status finishing the eliminations with a 5-1 (win-loss) card before sweeping all of their semifinal assignments for a 3-0 slate to return to the finals.
However, things didn’t go according to plan for USPF at the start of the finals as it lost Game 1 in a five-set thriller before tying the series last Oct. 15 to force yesterday’s rubber match.
“I told them not to pressure themselves coming into the game because sometimes they get lost in the court and then they should communicate inside,” Rizarri said.
Her instructions, however, didn’t sink in immediately as USPF dropped the opening set before regaining their composure to steal the second and third sets and take a 2-1 advantage after three.
After losing the second and third sets, the Baby Cobras seemed ready to force a decider as they erected a 22-17 lead in the fourth. That however, proved to be their last hurrah as Mitzi Panangin caught fire, scoring five of USPF’s last eight points including the title-clinching kill.
“The players themselves have nice upbringing and they have respect and values. You have to boost (their confidence) instead of letting them down,” said the rookie mentor Rizarri who claimed her first title as a head coach.
USPF’s championship win could signal the return of the Baby Panthers’ dynasty they last enjoyed six years ago. But Rizarri admits that it will be a lot tougher to repeat with the target clearly s on their backs next season.
“It’s really hard, it will be tough. We can’t promise it but yes we will do our best,’ Rizarri said.
Whether by accident or design, USPF’s title win reminded everyone that every successful team has a painful story. And every painful story will eventually have a successful ending.
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