Lady Jags eye return to finals in BBEAL volleyball

EVEN the limited numbers of players did not hamper six time women’s volleyball champion University of the Cordillera in finishing the eliminations atop the team standing of the Baguio–Benguet Educational Athletic League.

A sorry five set loss by the Saint Louis University Lady Navigators against defending champion University of Baguio Lady Cardinals in the last game of the eliminations made the Lady Jaguars the top seed going into today’s semis match–up.

And with nine players on the bench, Jaguars head coach Ysang Tolentino remains upbeat of their chances for this year as they return to the top of women’s volleyball after reigning in the game from 2005–2010 only to be booted out last year in the finals.

“It’s very fulfilling considering the number of players we have, we still made it,” said Tolentino, a remnant of the UC Lady Jaguar champs in 2012.

But it won’t be a walk in the park for the Gov. Pack road spikers as they face off against the gritty Cordillera Career Development College Lady Admirals, the fourth seeded squad after the eliminations.

“We still have to work out with our blocking and middle attack and at the same time we have to improve our endurance since I have a limited number of players,” added Tolentino.

Earlier, the Lady Navigators could not just finish off a gritty UB Lady Cardinals as they fall in five set, 25-22, 25-22, 27-29, 21-25, 11-15, Sunday at the CCDC gym.

The former eight time champion was leading 15-8 in the third set and was looking to finishing the defending champion when they suddenly turned cold.

That started a furious Cardinals rally resulting to a 21-all deadlock. With the two tied at 27-all, and UB serving, the referee called it in favor of the Navigators which was questioned by Mae Madulid.

That was a 15-minute stand off as coach Jun Nisperos refused to let his Cardinals back in the court and Madulid stuck with the referee.

It was ruled in favor of UB and a point awarded to the Cardinals and needing just a point for the set. They delivered as the Cardinals lived for another day.

SLU stormed to another 15-8 lead only to see that dissipate with another gallant Lady Cardinals as it stormed to a 21-20 lead The score this time remained in favor of the Cardinals who cruised to a 25-21 win setting up a fifth final set.