Thursday, September 11, 2008 USC men's volleyball team prepares for Cesafi grandslam By Rich M. Salibay Sun.Star Correspondent
FOR the University of San Carlos (USC) men’s volleyball team, defending its Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) title and winning a grandslam is serious business and the team is willing to do whatever it takes
Their success last year, which was the product of hard toil, will be tastier and sweeter if they make a rare three-peat this year according to coach Norvie Labuga.
The only team to have won a grandslam in Cesafi volleyball is the University of San Jose-Recoletos women’s team of coach Grace Antigua, which they accomplished last year.
The USJ-R men’s team was one championship short of a grandslam win when USC spoiled it two years ago.
This season, USC had a minor revamp following the exit of one of its main protagonist Carlo Tecson, who graduated last year and Labuga passed the key role to two-time Cesafi MVP Roderick Arenasa, Tecson’s known right hand.
The team’s usual time spent for training has been increased, in addition to learning new techniques and approaches to support the group’s strength in defending the title.
Labuga believes in the winning spirits of his players, enough to do wonders once more.
“The desire to win is there. We won’t be complacent and we also consider the skills of our counterparts. Like us, they are here to win. The contest is still to start and we are preparing ourselves for this,” Labuga said.
USC considers USJ-R and University of Southern Philippines Foundation as its strongest rivals since the team has the same lineup as last year.
USC had defeated USJ-R for the title in 2006 and outlasted USPF in a five-set thriller last year.
Also USJR’s power-packed lineup nor USPF’s well-composed team couldn’t be ignored and both are expected to pull surprises as well.
This year, Labuga is counting on Arenasa for the important mission along with last year’s breakout star Kenneth Bensig with Dexter Tuazon, Jerone Maestre, Eleazar Uy, Junrey Suico, Axiel Klassen, Dennis Sepulvida, Rod Aragon, Michael Alilin, Von Vincent Estrera, and Harvey Bernil to keep the crown one more time.
“I believe in them and in their determination to defend our title. Come what may, with the hope that the best may come,” said Labuga.
