Cobras win Cesafi men’s, women’s beach volley titles

SWU sweep

SWU’s Floremel Rodriguez sets up an offensive play for teammate Therese Ray Ramos in their championship game against USP-F at the Aznar Coliseum sand courts.
(CDN photo/Lito Tecson)

Southwestern University (SWU) dominated the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) beach volleyball competition after winning both the men’s and women’s crowns yesterday at the Aznar Coliseum sand courts.

The Lady Cobras’ triumvirate of Tanjay City, Negros Oriental-native Floremel Rodriguez, Therese Ray Ramos and Janelle Cabahug displayed solid performances in the ultimate round and blasted the Gelly Murpos and Rochelle Rica-led University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Lady Panthers in straight sets, 21-17, 21-14, to annex their second straight women’s championship tiara.

The vast experience of Rodriguez and Ramos in various national and international competitions boded well for the spikers of SWU coach Dave Arreza as SWU thwarted the formidable tandem of Murpos and Rica to prevent a rubber match third set.

The Cobras, under the tutelage of SWU athletic director Ryan Aznar, made it a double celebration in the final day of action after the trio of Rommel Pepito, Alden Dave Cabaron and Jewel Cabahug captured the men’s division championship title by toppling the defending champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, manned by Mark Anthony Fernandez, Joseph Noval and Joseph Rubi, 21-18, 21-17.

The Cobras’ victory in the men’s division marked the return of SWU atop the Cesafi beach volleyball standings since winning the crown in 2012.

Garnering the third spot in the women’s division is the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Lady Jaguars, who outlasted the University of San Carlos (USC)  Lady Warriors, 19-21, 22-20 and 16-14, while the USP-F Panthers landed in third place in the men’s division after overwhelming the USJ-R Jaguars.

USJ-R TOPS JUNIORS

USJ-R bounced back strong in the secondary division, winning the boys’ and girls’ titles.

USJ-R’s girls team bucked an opening set debacle before taking home the title by surviving a tough three-set game over the USC, 11-21, 21-19 and 15-10.

The USJ-R boys squad, on the other hand, also toppled USC, 21-17, 15-21, 15-7, to win the crown.

Third-placers in the juniors were the Baby Panthers in the boys’ division and the Baby Cobras in the girls’ division.