Puno: Dorms must follow fire safety rules

Team Liloanon and the Hotel Fortuna-backed University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) shackled their respective foes to rule the 1st M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Open Indoor VolleyballTournament, which came to a close yesterday at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Gymnasium.

Team Liloanon dismantled the ML Cebu Dried Mango Delights-sponsored USJ-R Spiking Jaguars in four sets to clinch the men’s division crown of the tournament organized by M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF) executive director Eddie B. Ybañez.

Despite the setback of their men’s counterparts, the Josenians still have something to cheer for as the USJ-R belles swept the disorganized and lackluster Hiroshi squad in three sets to capture the women’s tiara.

The visiting Liloan spikers, inspired by the presence of team owner Gerardo “Dodong Gamay” Frasco Jr., uncle of Liloan mayor-elect Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco, hammered out convincing wins in the first two sets, 25-18, 25-17.

The Jaguars prevented a 3-0 shutout by Liloan but were made to work to the limit before grinding through a 26-24 decision in the third set.

But that proved to be USJ-R’s last hurrah as the brave-hearted Liloanons lunged the kill in the fourth set, 25-20.

In the women’s finals, USJ-R of coach Grace Antigua and team sponsor Lorenzo “Chao” Sy proved too classy and unstoppable for the error-prone Hiroshi.

While the Hiroshi players struggled in their offense that was aggravated by their failure to make the necessary adjustments on defense, USJ-R executed so well on all facets of the game resulting into a clean 25-22, 25-20, 25-13 sweep.

In the first set, the Julett Mae Marikit-skippered USJ-R jumped off to a hot 6-1 start. The best Hiroshi could muster was to tie the score at 8-all as the Jaguars countered with a 5-0 run to take full control the rest of the way.

Hiroshi took an early 3-1 edge in the second set but that was not for long as USJ-R replied with a 7-2 bang to gain a 9-5 headway.

Hiroshi rallied back to wrest the driver’s seat 15-12, but that was its brightest moment as the USJ-R ladies never looked back after grabbing the lead, 17-15.

The Hiroshi mainstays apparently threw in the towel as they fought effortless and committed a spate of unforced errors in the third set that paved the way to a lopsided 25-13 triumph by USJ-R.

In the battle for third place, the Dewfoam-backed University of San Carlos (USC) pummeled the Tinong’s Bakery Mandaue selection, 25-12, 21-25, 25-22, 25-15 in the men’s division, while the MLSDF All-Stars dismantled Team RTM, 25-21, 25-19, 25-22 in the distaff side. — EBV