MANDAUE City battled adversity on their way to claiming the North Division title of the 1st Governor’s Cup Volleyball Tournament.
The Mandaue City volleybelles outlasted Catmon in straight sets, 25-23, 25-16, 26-24, in Game 3 of the North Division Finals in the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex last Monday night, to advance to the championship round of the 18-Under tournament.
Mandaue City’s head coach Jerry Rodriguez said that one of their challenges was the practice time of the players. “Our time usually for practice is really short because the gym is used for basketball. We also have five players who are competing in the PNG (Philippine National Games),” he said. Mandaue City swept the North Division quarterfinals with a 5-0 win-loss record before they collided with the determined Catmon spikers in the best-of-three North Division series. Mandaue City won Game 1. Catmon responded in Game 2.
In Game 3, Mandaue City escaped with a two-point edge, 25-23, in the first set before asserting its dominance with 25-16 in the second set. Catmon did not buck down without a fight and gave Mandaue City a run for their money in the third set.
Catmon made a 5-0 run to take a 20-17 lead but Mandaue City responded with a 7-4 blast to tie the game at 24-all. An ace from Ressel Pedroza gave Mandaue City the championship point before Sheila Marie Kiseo attacked the defense of Catmon to seal the win.
Mandaue City will face the South Division champion Carcar City in the best-of-three championship. The winner will be named the first Gov’s Cup Volleyball Tournament champion and will win P300,000 cash.
Both Mandaue City and Carcar City finished the quarterfinals with a 5-0 slate. The two teams also needed three games to finish off their opponent in the South and North division Finals.
The organizers said that to determine who will host Game 1, they will draw lots. The winner in the draw will host Game 1, while the loser will host Game 2. The third game will be held in a neutral place. (RSC)