USPF bags 9th girls volley title

CEBU, Philippines - The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers bagged its record-breaking ninth CESAFI girl’s secondary volleyball title after thrashing the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) yesterday at the overflowing USPF gym.

Starring team captain Jinky Garridos, USPF trounced USJ-R in two easy sets 25-13, 25-15 to avenge its loss to the latter in the elimination round.

The performance of Garridos rubbed off to her teammates as Maureen Veronas, Kaisse Delos Santos, Cyd Therese Demecillo, Fritzie Estable, Creste Murillo and Sharry Sereno stepped up their games as well.

The loss to USJ-R became the rallying point for USPF volleybelles. They learned from the humbling experience and when it was time for payback, they just poured it on.

 “It’s a great feeling because we were able to make it. We grabbed our ninth straight victory. For nine years we’ve been lording it over the CESAFI girl’s secondary volleyball event,” said jubilant coach Jordan Paca.

USPF will be gunning for a double kill when its boy’s team play USJ-R for the championship at 1:00 this afternoon.

Meanwhile in college volleyball, defending champions University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) are still undefeated.

USPF and USJ-R are both toting a clean 4-0 slate after finishing off their respective rivals yesterday at the USPF gym.

The girls of coach Paca beat the University of Cebu (UC) 25-13, 25- 25-11, 25-20 through the efforts of Nestea Beach Volley national women’s champions Erika Camille Verano and Apple Eve Saraum.

In the men’s division, Nestea Beach Volley national men’s victors Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos carried USJ-R to a 25-8, 25-10, 25-13 pummeling of the winless Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU).

The University of San Carlos (USC) of coach Roderick Arenasa improved its standing to 3-1 by winning over the University of Cebu (UC) in a four-set thriller, 25-23, 21-25, 25-20, 25-14. (THE FREEMAN)