DEFENDING men’s division champion Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma is a win away from winning back-to-back titles in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) volleyball tournament after taking Game 1 of the best-of-three finals series on Sunday, Nov. 18, at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Gym.

SWU swept University of the Visayas (UV) in three sets, 26-24, 26-24, 25-21.

SWU domintad the third set early on and took a 16-10 lead. UV, however, fought its way back up with the attacking of Raphy Abanto, Lester Arioja abd Lenel Canada. Kevin Juban trimmed down SWU’s lead to just two, 20-22, with a spike.

UV would break down and fail to return the ball in the following play to give SWU an easy point, 20-23.

Raul Consad scored the match point with a block and won the game with a quick attack.

Meanwhile, the University of San Carlos (USC) also took Game 1 in the women’s division with a four-set win over University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R).

USC, now mentored by former USJ-R coach Grace Antigua, took the opening set, 25-22. USJ-R answered by taking the second set, 25-14.

But USC was unfazed and won back-to-back sets, 25-18, 25-19, to take Game 1 of the women’s division finals.

Game 2 of both the men’s and women’s division finals will be on Saturday, Nov. 23, at the USPF Gym. (EKA)