Tuesday, May 22, 2007 Tinong’s gobbles Crunchchiken USP
TINONG’S Bakery salvaged the last semifinals berth in the men’s division of the 1st M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Open Indoor Volleyball Tournament, as it survived its encounter against Crunchicken-University of Southern Philippines last Sunday at the latter’s home court.
Tinong’s, made up of former hotshot spikers during their prime, had enough manpower to muscle their way past the college varsity team of coach Cecil Jotojot, which they subdued in four sets, 25-15, 31-29, 25-27, 25-21.
Trailing by a set, USPF instigated a fiery comeback to claim the second set but not after being forced into six slide two’s, to level the game.
Determined to win, Tinong’s squad of the Acojedo brothers Rey, Opong and Tata armed with long years of experience, and the youthful mastery of Mark Simbajon, Ronald Moreno, Paul Hernandez and Jerome Capada, the team went on to sweep the third and fourth sets to seal their win and formalizing their entry to the penultimate round.
Tinong’s advances to the crossover semifinals at second place in its bracket sporting 2 wins -1 loss card.
Tinong’s joins early qualifiers University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR) and Liloan, which are the top teams of bracket B and bracket A leader University of San Carlos (USC).
A tough task lies ahead for Tinong’s as they will be taking on bracket B top team USJ-R of coach Grace Antigua. (MCB)
