THE University of San Carlos (USC) Lady Warriors cemented their dynasty in Cebu collegiate volleyball after surviving a heart-stopping five-set marathon against the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Lady Jaguars, 25–20, 16–25, 25–20, 23–25, 21–19, to retain their Cesafi crown on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, at the USPF Lahug Campus gymnasium.
The victory marked USC’s second consecutive title under the guidance of legendary head coach Grace Antigua and carried extra sweetness as it avenged their loss to the same USJ-R squad in the V-League Visayas finals last July.
USC claimed the first and third sets behind the sharp attacks of last year’s MVP Ghanna Suan and veteran Angel Galinato. But the Lady Jaguars fought back, taking the second and fourth sets to force a deciding fifth frame.
In the final set, USC trailed 8–2 before mounting a massive comeback. Anchored by Galinato’s net defense and the composure of Mary Angel Tariman, the Lady Warriors clawed back to tie the game at 14-all. After multiple deuces, Galinato delivered a clinical middle attack to reach match point, and USC’s front line sealed the championship with a textbook block, ending the set at a dramatic 21–19.
The Lady Warriors had already proven their resilience earlier, surviving another five-set thriller against the University of Cebu (UC) Lady Webmasters in the semifinals. Their back-to-back triumph confirmed their status as the team to beat in the region, having now won two straight titles after enduring a five-year drought.
“I’m very proud of my players. They showed heart when they were down in that fifth set,” said Coach Antigua. “Winning back-to-back is never easy, but they stayed composed when it mattered most.”
USC’s Jolly Velasquez bagged the MVP award, while USJ-R’s Rachelle Ann Tecson was named Rookie of the Year. Galinato and UC’s Glaiza Santosidad earned Best Middle Blocker honors, while Suan and UC’s Leady Ann Rule took Best Outside Hitter awards. USC’s Cris Atay and Velasquez also received Best Server and Best Setter honors, respectively, while USJ-R’s Dianne Duazo was named Best Libero.