Lapu-Lapu rules 1st GUV Cup

Lapu-Lapu City defied all odds and frustrated Toledo City to grab the championship title of the 1st Governor Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball Cup yesterday at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center.

The Lapu-Lapu City volleybelles broke the hearts of Toledo City as they swept the best-of-three final match with the latter enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage having won all their assignments in the semifinals.

It was hotly contested in the first game but thanks to former Southwestern University stalwart Chandrina Tumabang, who helped Lapu-Lapu as she dished out a total of 33 points coming off from her unstoppable spikes. She was later named as best spiker.

Despite her big body built, Tumabang was keen to quickly save enough spikes from Toledo as Asian Girls Championship player Michelle Simbajon of the University of San Jose-Recoletos ably supported her.

Lapu-Lapu City grabbed the first two sets, 25-17, 25-18, but its defense started to crumble when Simbajon, had to take some rest after inccuring some muscle spasms.

Her absence was really felt as Toledo City took advantage of it with Marites Natad, former SWU varsity and grandslam champion of the Nestea Beach Volleyball, leading the charge and the cruised to 20-16 count. Simbajon was forced to come back but she failed to bring back the momentum as they lost the third set, 19-25.

But in the fourth set, Toledo City committed several unforced errors, which cost them dearly yielding, 10-25.

In the second game Tumabang remained unstoppable in the net while Jusabelle Brillo, who later claimed the MVP award, silently did her job with killer attacks and blocks.

Natad tried to revive her team together with the split charities from Claire Ann Manalili and Ros Gorrero but they fell as they continued to make mistakes and bowed out in straight sets in the deciding match 17-25, 23-25.

"Actually, we never expected we'd reach this far, we lack practice and we don't even have uniforms because we lack the support. Some of our other players were even disqualified. In fact we submitted our requirements late but we tried hard," said Joerem Yu, coach of Lapulapu City.

Aside from the P100,000 cash prize handed out by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Lapu-Lapu City claimed most of the special awards including Simbajon's best setter, Janica Jimenez winning the best libero, while Toledo's Natad bagged the best blocker award and Claire Ann Manalili claimed the best server as they pocketed P2,000 plus Timex watches.