Central Visayas volleybelles falter anew in Palarong Pambansa bid

The Region 7  girls’ volleyball team with head coach Yolly Rizarri (right most). | contributed photo

Cebu City, Philippines—It was deja vu for the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF)-manned secondary girls volleyball team of Central Visayas as they once again bowed out of the Palarong Pambansa in the quarterfinal round in Davao.

Central Visayas-USPF lost to host delegation, Davao, 17-25, 25-22, 25-17, on Thursday, May 2, 2019. 

“Abi gali namo ug atua na to pero di na lang ta maghimo excuses, pildi jud,” said head coach Yolly Rizarri. 

(We thought the game was already ours but we will not make excuses, we really lost the game.)

The team won the first set, 25-17, but fell short in the second set, 22-25.

“Ang second atoa unta to kay 22 naman pero ni diretso diretso man ila score,” said Rizarri. 

(The second set would have been ours because we were already at 22 points but their score just kept piling from thereon.)

After a hard fought win in the second set, Davao went on to win the third and deciding set, 25-17, to advance to the semifinals. 

According to Rizarri, the team’s chemistry was fine but her players just had the tendency to relax during the games. 

The USPF volleybelles though has a chance to redeem themselves as they will also be representing Central Visayas in the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National finals happening May 18-24, 2019 also in Davao City, wherein they hope to better their bronze medal finish last year in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Rizarri said they will be having the same lineup except for two players, the reinforcement from St. Theresa’s College and Tanjay. /bmjo