CEBU, Philippines - Roble Shipping Lines and Team Froilan sent their respective foes to the showers to book a championship date in the1st Estaca Women’s Volleyball Open yesterday in Brgy. Estaca, municipality of Compostela.
The win, however, was not served on a silver platter for Roble Shipping Lines as it had to go through a five-set thriller before exacting vengeance at its elimination round tormentor University of San Carlos.
With former USJ-R star Mechelle Matuguina, Cheche Bohol and SWU stalwarts Raphril Aguilar, Lorie May Layno and Mary Luilyn Pacinio on the firing end, Roble Shipping got off to a sterling 25-21 start, but Methosheena Bate, Jerymie Montalvo, Niña Irish Cortes and Suzette Panis sparked a spirited second-set uprising by USC, which they translated into a close 25-23 victory for the equalizer.
Roble Shipping regained its momentum to snatch the third set, 25-23, but showing never-say-die spirit, the Carolinians charged back with savvy in the fourth set, 25-21, to forge a rubbermatch.
In the decider set, Roble Shipping poured in all its energy left and made it all the way to a dominating 15-8 finish.
While Roble Shipping had to toil hard to make it into the final round, Team Frolian did not even exude a single drop of sweat to advance to the championship as it won by default over a now-show Warriors.
The champion will pocket P5,000, while the second to third will take home P3,000, P2,000 and P1,000, respectively.
Organized by the Purok Mahogany Youth Organization in association with the Cebu Volleyball Association (CEVA) and Sunsport, the event is among the highlights of Brgy. Estaca’s annual fiesta in honor of the Holy Trinity. (THE FREEMAN)