Spiking Cobras earn finals berth in Cesafi

Defending champions Southwestern University Cobras (2-0) earned a finals spot Sunday after outlasting the University of San Carlos Warriors (1-1), 25-18, 25-23, 25-22 in the semifinal round of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s volleyball tournament at the Recoletos gym.
The match was tight except in the first set where the Cobras took the opener with a seven-point margin.
After losing the second set by a heartbreaker, 23-25, and staring at a 0-2 deficit in sets, the Warriors looked lost and ready to crumble especially after the Cobras raced to a, 17-12 lead in the third set. But the Warriors proved their resilience by tying the count at 22-all. However, two service errors from USC and a solid block by SWU’s Rommel Pepito sealed the Cobras’s trip to the finals.
It was sweet victory for the Cobras who lost to the same USC squad, 25-19, 25-20, 18-25, 22-25, 8-15 in the elimination round.
SWU Head Coach Dave Arreza said the extra work they put in training played a crucial part in their victory against the Warriors.
“Gi studyhan nako ang mga weakness nila. Sige pud mi ug training. Kung unsa ang weakness sa kontra, amo lang trabahoon,” Arreza said.
Also in the men’s division, the University of San Jose-Recoletos (1-1) grabbed their first win in the semifinal round by crushing the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Inc. (0-2), 25-18, 25-20, 25-18.
Despite the loss, the Panthers can still make it to the finals but they would need a big help from the Southwestern University Cobras as action shifts to their home floor this Saturday.
A victory by the Panthers and the Cobras on Saturday would force a triple-tie between USPF, USC, and USJ-R. A quotient system would then be used to break the tie.
This Saturday’s semifinal action at the USPF gym pits the Southwestern University Cobras (2-0) against the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars (1-1) and the University of San Carlos Warriors (1-1) aganst the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers (0-2).