The men’s and women’s teams of the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras bowed out of contention after they absorbed crucial losses in the indoor volleyball tournament of the 20th Philippine University Games (UniGames) yesterday in Bacolod City.
Manpower woes heavily contributed to the losses that denied the SWU squads from advancing to the quarterfinals.
The men’s team lost to the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 18-25, 17-25, 22-25, as it missed the medal round after an impressive showing in the elimination round where it won three of its four matches.
The Lady Cobras also suffered a blowout loss to title favorites Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, 12-25, 13-25, 13-25.
The Cobras missed the services of some key players as games coincided with the start of the beach volleyball tournament.
Dave Cabaron, the reigning Cesafi MVP, and Rommel Pepito failed to suit up for the men’s team. The women’s squad played without Cesafi MVP Flormel Rodriguez and Therese Rose Ramas.
“We lost because of the conflict of schedules in the beach and indoor games),” said SWU coach Dave Arreza.
While they faltered in the indoor tournament, the SWU Cobras as well as the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars took off to a rousing start in the beach volleyball.
The Spiking Jaguars blasted the Rizal Technological University (RTU), 21-19, then pulled off a 21-14 rout of Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC). The Spiking Jaguars ended the day with a 21-14 nipping of the De La Salle University (DLSU).
The Lady Jaguars for their part crushed the hapless Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion (CPC) 21-9 before losing to the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UP) Lady Maroons (UP), 11-21.
The Lady Cobras scored three quick wins by beating Dela Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) 21-10, University of Mindanao-Tagum (UM-Tagum), 21-15 and RTU 21-13.
The SWU Cobras started the day with a 17-21 loss to the Negros Oriental State University (NorSu). The Cobras bounced with two victories, beating UM-Tagum, 21-10, and University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), 21-7.