CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue and Talisay reigned supreme in the city cluster of the 5th Governor Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball (GUV) Cup yesterday at the jampacked Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) Summit Hall.
The younger generation prevailed as the gritty Mandauehanons made history after bagging the inaugural men’s crown but they had to go through a four set-thriller before edging out Talisay, 22-25, 25-20, 31-29, 25-18.
Talisay, manned by playing coach and team captain Norvie “Making” Labuga, made an impressive start in the first set, 25-22. Labuga was heavily backed by Kevin Casia, Norman Kong, Ronald Moreno, Ryan Mahilum and Constancio Estella.
Mandaue bounced back with an awe-inspiring performance from the triumvirate of former University of San Carlos spikers Roderick Arenasa and Edward Carlo Tecson along with former University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) setter, Rami Espinosa to take the second set, 25-20, for the 1-all equalizer.
In the third set, both teams went through a series of deadlocks until Mandaue gained a set-point advantage behind the powerful kills of Jesselito Moncada, 24-22. But the high-leaping Casia scored on two consecutive attacks to forge a slide two.
It seemed that Talisay and Mandaue did not want to give up as they had to pass through six slides but Mandaue’s Tecson and Melson Basubas ended the set at 31-29.
Mandaue proved to be the hungrier team as it took advantage of its 2-1 record as it wrested on the driver’s seat with a 20-10 run over Talisay. Talisay cut the deficit down to 17-23 but it’s already too late for Talisay when Kong’s attack was blocked by the net.
Talisay could only afford one more point when Mahilum’s service went out, giving an easy victory for Mandaue, 25-18.
After a two-year title drought, the Talisay belles were back in the limelight again after thrashing the Mandauehanons in the women’s city finals 25-23, 25-9, 25-22.
Talisay’s win was spearheaded by four-time Nestea beach volley champion Florian Guttierrez along with former USJ-R spikers Mechell Matuguina, Michelle Gimarino and Marissa Lagancia.
“After we were defeated by Mandaue during the city cluster eliminations, we had daily practice already. Even those who came from their respective jobs went straight to our practice area as part of our preparation. All our sacrifices really paid off with this momentous victory,” said Gutierrez.
Mandaue’s stalwarts and varsity players Apple Eve Saraum, Danika Gendrauli, Rachel Hannah Singson, Nina Irish Cortes, Chona Gesulga and Aureen Pino, tried hard but they were not able to destroy the defense posted by Talisay.
The municipal cluster championships saw Catmon and Liloan securing the women and men’s title.
Catmon succeeded in taking back-to-back titles after trouncing Minglanilla in straight sets, 25-17, 25-9, 25-20 behind the exemplary performances of Methosheena Bate, Athena Sucalit, Catherine Marquez, Lanie Silvestre, Jerymie Montalvo, Gretchel Soltones and Cristy Sucalit.
In the men’s bracket, Liloan took the first municipal cluster title after clobbering Minglanilla in four sets, 23-25, 25-13, 25-13, 25-20.
Liloan’s triumph was spearheaded by RP Team member Junrey Sasing, University of the Visayas team captain Jade Becaldo, University of San Jose-Recoletos team captain Jackie Yrog-irog and former USPF stalwarts Angellan Visoc, Clifford Café, Maynard Alijandrino and James Ryan Rivera. – THE FREEMAN