SEVERAL days before the state of public health emergency took effect in the country and the city community quarantine was implemented, defending champion University of Mindanao (UM) Lady Wildcats retained the crown at the close of the Davao City Prisaa Meet 2020 women's volleyball competition at the UM Matina Gym recently.
The Joaquin "Boy" Sarabia-coached Lady Wildcats recovered from its first set loss to spank perennial rival Jose Maria College (JMC), 23-25, 25-10, 25-14, 25-18 in their championship match.
Sarabia said, "Nakatsamba rami sa JMC kay kusog biya gyud sila kaayo (We were just lucky against JMC since theirs is a very strong team)."
He praised his players who really put up a very good fight against the JMC spikers.
"Daghan naman nangawala sa among team pero kusog gihapon ang mga bata maski duha nalang nabilin nga karaang og halos first year, second year og third year na ang among line-up (Most of our veterans have already graduated but we have two of them who are still with us and the younger players are also very strong)," Sarabia, who steered the Davao region team's gold medal victory in the National Prisaa Games 2019 held in Davao City, said in a phone interview with SunStar Davao Thursday, March 19.
He was pertaining to April Rose Yura and Cyra Regine Olivar, who were also part of the region's golden finish in the National Prisaa Games 2019 women's volleyball finals.
The Lady Wildcats squad was also composed of Reajane Dampiganon, Jessa Erojo, Al Sheree Ann Eupena, Aella Mae Fernandez, Kaye Antonette Gabayan, Coline Theah Hebres, Angel Mae Jalon, Chelsea Rose Maglangit and Princess Ann Soliano.
However, since the regional Prisaa Meet 2019, which was earlier set to be held in Davao City, was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Sarabia said he is uncertain if their team will go straight to next year's regional meet.
Sarabia, who is also executive director of Davao City and Regional Prisaa, said the Prisaa Board will have to discuss the matter since at least four sports have completed with the city eliminations -- women's volleyball, men's and women's chess, men's and women's athletics and women's basketball.
"Naningkamot man pud gud ang mga bata luoy sad og muusab napud ang city meet next year (The players really worked very hard to win, it would be a pity if they again in another city meet next year)," he added.
He plans to acquire the services of the three JMC veterans who were also members of the Davao region National Prisaa women's volleyball champion team for the regional meet.