CEBU, Philippines - The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and the University of San Carlos (USC) breezed through the semifinal round in their respective divisions in the beach volley competition of the 14th University Games at the Ronaldo’s Beach Resort in Tigbauan, Iloilo City.
USPF of coach Cecil Jotojot ended their first day campaign with an impressive 5-0 sweep in the men’s division. The formidable tandem of Edward Ybañez and Jhonrey Opone trounced the University of the East (UE), 21-15, and then pummeled the University of the Philippines (UP), 21-13.
In their succeeding games, Ybañez and Opone whipped University of Mindanao (UM), 21-14, and Rizal Technological University (RTU), 21-15, before clamping down the University of Sto. Tomas (UST), 21-15.
USPF will take on Foundation University’s Buensuceso Sayson and Elester Dugaduga in the semifinals this morning.
“I was not expecting that we will top our bracket because this is a first time for Opone to be paired with Ybañez. To my surprise, they immediately made an impression,” Jotojot said.
“I’m hoping they will be able to sustain their momentum so that we have greater chance to advance into the championship. But it’s really up to my players if they’ll be motivated to win,” he added.
In the distaff side, the rookie duo of Metosheena Bate and Niña Irish Cortes of the University of San Carlos (USC) caught the fancy of the spectators as they fought like veterans.
The Roderick Arenasa-mentored USC got off to a flying start with a 21-18 disposition of the College of St. Benilde, 21-18. They fell prey to the top-ranked De la Salle-Dasmariñas, 21-12, but bounced back with a thrilling 21-19 victory over the Foundation University of Dumaguete, thus, earning them a semifinal showdown with UE.
In the indoor volleyball tiff, the Cebu teams once again traded different paths as the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Spiking Jaguars barged into the championship in the men’s category, while the USPF belles were knocked out in the women’s bracket.
USJ-R of coach Grace Antigua slammed the Iloilo Doctors University, 29-27, 31-29, 25-15, while USPF crumbled before Adamson University in four sets, 25-16, 14-25, 25-23, 25-23.