Sunday, December 02, 2007 Jaguars trample CIT, CDC in Cesafi volleyball By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE University of San Jose-Recoletos spiking Jaguars extended their winning run in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) volleyball competition after winning in their respective assignments yesterday at the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation gymnasium.
Both USJ-R men’s and women’s teams of multi-titled coach Grace Antigua are currently on top of the standings with identical 2-0 win-loss slates.
The USJ-R men’s team first whitewashed the Cebu Institute of Technology, 25-14, 25-14, 25-21, Friday afternoon before preying on the powerless newbies Cebu Doctors’ University in a lopsided 25-6, 25-17, 25-8 win yesterday.
On the distaff side, the Lady Jaguars logged their second win in the competition at the expense of the hardworking Southwestern University Spiking Cobras also in straight sets, 25-20, 25-14, 25-13.
The Cobras, however, put up a good fight in the first set and went up ahead 10-2, which had coach Antigua worried.
“I was concerned with that first set,” Antigua said.
However, the Cobras failed to maintain the momentum and allowed the more experienced Jaguars to erase the lead and eventually take the set.
RP team
Former RP youth team member Genie Sabas and Angielove Cabiles, spearheaded the Jaguars’ comeback in that set.
The Cobras’ poor reception led to their demise as they had no answer to the prowess of the small but terrible Julett Mae Marikit in the second set. The final set saw setter and also former RP youth team libero, Michelle Simbajon, with Aina Laroga take the steering wheel as they led USJ-R’s 25-13 win, sealing the final outcome.
After discovering their own weakness, SWU head coach Janeth Ponte said they will work on it when they take on University of the Visayas today.
“We will work on our reception because that caused our problems,” Ponte said.
The UV girls team of coach Raffy Briones is hoping to bounce back from its three-setter loss to USJ-R during the tournament opening last Friday.
Meanwhile, men’s defending champion University of San Carlos asserted its dominance with a 25-21, 25-14, 25-15 thrashing of University of Cebu.
Three players were at the forefront of USC’s carnage led by captain and reigning MVP Roderick Arenasa with his beach volleyball partner Carlo Tecson and Kenneth Bensig. The three carried the scoring cudgels for USC. (MCB)
