Monday, May 12, 2008 USJ-R Jaguars survive FEU in five sets By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE University of San Jose Recoletos Spiking Lady Jaguars have proven that their head coach, Grace Antigua, is the glue that holds the team together.
Yesterday, USJ-R put up an impressive defensive stance to sneak past Far Eastern University in a nail-biting five-setter, 20-25, 25-15, 24-26, 25-17, 15-10.
It, however, did not start as strongly as expected. The team played without Antigua as she came home to play for her alma mater, Southwestern University, where she joined her former teammates against the new batch of volleyball players.
“I was not there and it was a mess,” said Antigua. Antigua added that when she arrived in time for the second set, the girls seemed to have found strength as they went on to win the second set, 25-15.
However, the team’s usual problem that happens whenever they are on the lead, returned. USJ-R was at set point, 24-20, and they relaxed, allowing FEU to hammer them out of nowhere with kills.
“We could not block well as (Julette) Marikit and Joy (Bonita) were not able to put up a solid block at the net,” said Antigua.
Crucial adjustments
FEU took advantage of the stunned USJ-R as it scored the next six points to win the set, 26-24 and the lead at two sets to one.
“We had to make crucial adjustments as we could not afford to lose again because we will be going up against a much tougher opponent in our next game,” Antigua added.
Antigua said that she had to keep on reminding the team to pull out the strength that had them win titles here in Cebu to push through in the next two sets to win.
USJ-R won the title in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. volleyball competition for three straight years.
“The girls played a good defensive game and our main problem is just how they take it easy when they feel the game is on their favor,” said Antigua.
Top team
The team is set to take on the quarterfinal’s top team Ateneo de Manila University, which currently leads the series with a 3-0 record.
Antigua said that Ateneo will be the more confident team in this match-up having an import, Thai player Em-orn Phanusit, who hit 17 kills in their last game.
“While we need to work on a more solid front court, I always tell my girls that they have to treat each game as if it were the finals match. I need to put some pressure on them to keep their focus and playing in that level,” Antigua added.
USJ-R now stands at a temporary second, sharing the spot with Lyceum of the Philippines University with identical 2-1 win-loss records. FEU spiraled down the standing with a 1-2 record.
Six teams are vying to take the top two spots that would send them to the semifinal round, where two semifinalists Adamson University and San Sebastian College are already waiting.
USJ-R is a guest team along with University of St. La Salle, in the competition as wildcard teams.
USLS’s chances, however remain slim after losing its past two games.
Antigua said that since they could no longer top the round, they need to at least make it to the top three. Only the first team will be assured of a slot to the semifinals.
The second and third placers will still battle it out in a bonus round with the winner completing the semifinals cast.
