Thursday, March 06, 2008 UV starts MLKP beach volley title defense with easy win By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AS expected, the defending champion University of the Visayas opened its title retention bid on a high note during the first day of the 2nd M. Lhuillier Kwart Padala All-Ladies Beach Volley Open last Sunday at the Wiggy’s Beach Resort in Liloan-Cebu with an easy 25-19 win over the University of Southern Philippines Foundation.
What everyone was not prepared for was how Southwestern University fought tooth-and-nail to defeat the highly-touted University of San Jose Recoletos team, 27-25.
SWU’s Jessa Satina and Lorie Mae Layno just lost to USJ-R’s Genie Sabas and Michelle Simbajon in the Cesafi last Saturday in a lopsided 11-25 bashing and got even with an impressive comeback.
The USJ-R duo were left dumbfounded as they came face to face with a grittier opponent.
“They had so many errors. They just lost control of the game,” said head coach Grace Antigua.
SWU head coach Janeth Ponte said she was impressed at the toughness shown by her wards.
“I was even surprised. They came to the game with a lot of confidence that was not there when they played USJ-R in the Cesafi last Saturday,” said Ponte, who added that she gives credit to Satina and Layno for a good job despite being new to the sport.
Happy
“I am very happy with their performance. Lorie is only a first year high school student and Jessa is a very small girl, who plays libero for our indoor team,” Ponte, a national beach volleyball titlist said.
In the game, SWU once more found itself at match point, 24-21, when USJ-R initiated a 3-0 rally to level the game at 24, forcing a slide. SWU only needed to bank on the unforced errors of Simbajon and Sabas to claim its first win in the tournament.
Easy win
Meanwhile, defending champions Jusabelle Brillo and Janez Armie Igot of UV mercilessly pounded USPF’s Herlene Ybarita and Erika Verano.
Maritess Natad and Christine Rose Bohol of team Arthro also registered one win after trampling USJ-R team 2 Aina Laroga and Joy Bonita.
Also securing their first win in the tournament were MLKP’s Kennette Garces and Sarah Miculob, who won over Jeremie Montalvo and Kimberly Ybañez of the University of San Carlos, 25-22.
Before the games, a simple opening ceremony was held and was graced by Liloan municipal councilor Bobby Motus, event organizer and M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation executive director Eddie B. Ybañez, and Cebu Volleyball Federation president Raul Gonzales.
The competition follows a single round robin format with the top two teams per bracket advancing into the crossover semifinals. The winners will then clash for the championship.
Aside from trophies, the champion will receive P5,000, while the second and third placers will pocket P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.
