DAYS before they had to leave for the Shakey’s V-League in Manila, University of San Jose Recoletos head coach Grace Antigua was in a dilemma as to who to get as reinforcement for the team to help in their Shakey’s campaign.
As other teams were beefed up by foreigners, Antigua did not have to look far as she tapped her former players Julette Mae Marikit and Mechell Matuguina to reinforce the team, along with another standout Erika Verano, whom Antigua borrowed from the University of Southern Philippines Foundation.
She was not mistaken as Marikit and Matuguina virtually powered the team to a 25-22, 25-20, 25-23 victory over College of St. Benilde in 75 minutes last Sunday at the Arena in San Juan City.
Although no longer connected with a collegiate squad, Marikit and Ma–tuguina, both former captains of USJ-R, continue to hone their skills by joining trainings and competing in local commercial leagues.
Marikit’s biggest contribution to the team during her stint with USJ-R, was skippering it to taking their third straight championship in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) in her final year with USJ-R.
Last Sunday, Matugui–na was the game’s highest scorer with 16 points—15 made on her attacks, while Marikit had 12 points. Aina Laroga scored 11.
Genie Sabas, former RP girls team member, was menacing from the frontlines as she used her height as a wall, scoring most of her points coming off blocks.
USJ-R, the grandslam winner of the Cesafi, was one of only two teams from the South invited to join in the Shakey’s V-League and is hoping to snag a slot to the semifinal round. The other school is the University of St. La Salle of Bacolod, the defending champion of the University Games.
USJ-R’s win should bolster its confidence when it takes on Lyceum University of the Philippines at 2 p.m. today. Lyceum will be a deadly opponent as it recently suffered a beating from Ateneo de Manila last Sunday, 16-25, 21-25, 20-25.
USLS, which will be seeing action for the first time, is up for a tough task as it will battle Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines champion Far Eastern University.
The quarterfinals adopt a single-round robin format with the top two teams moving to the semifinals. Already assured of slots to the semis are top seeds Adamson and San Sebastian. (MCB)
