CEBU, Philippines – The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Spiking Panthers and the Southwestern University (SWU) Lady Cobras completed a six-game sweep in their respective division to emerge as the top seed going into the semifinal round of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) volleyball tournament yesterday at the Aznar Coliseum.
USPF of coach Joerem Yu proved to be the toughest squad in the men's bracket after thrashing all its opponents with the University of the Visayas (UV) as its last prey.
The formidable USPF spikers pummeled the Visayanians in straight sets, 25-21, 25-22, 25-23, behind the smart plays and lightning attacks of Edward Ybañez, Jes-selito Moncada, Allan Caspillo, Jonrey Opone, Emmanuel Marlon Luces and Niño Rey Imbong.
"The players are really eager to win the championship this year since they have not yet experienced it. But we will not be complacent in our pursuit for glory because our opponents will surely step up the level of their game. We will just strive harder in order to reach our goal," said Yu.
On the other hand, defending champion University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) secured the second spot after slamming the University of San Carlos (USC), 25-19, 25-20, 25-12.
Among those who vaulted USJ-R of coach Grace Antigua to victory were CHED National Games MVP Jesriel Pino, Khen Bhoyd Abunda, Leoniel Sanchez, Kevin Casia and rookie setter Jayvelle Rojas.
In the women's bracket, defending champion SWU came out as the elimination round topnotcher after outsmarting the USC Lady Warriors in four sets, 25-21, 21-25, 25-10, 25-23, in the clash of unbeaten squads that was also foreseen by pundits as preview of the finals.
UV shines in sepak takraw, tennis
The University of the Visayas (UV) basked in another golden finish in the 2010 CESAFI auxilliary events after dominating sepak takraw at the University of Cebu-METC campus in Brgy. Mambaling, this city.
UV defeated the University of Cebu, 2-0, in their final battle. UV won the first set, but experienced some trouble in the second frame before eventually finishing off UC.
UC won the second game's first regu, 22-20, 21-14,15-12, but UV lashed back in the second regu, 19-21, 21-14, 15-9 to forge a rubbermatch.
In the decider, UV showed nerves of steel in pinning down UC, 21-17, 9-21, 15-12.
Aside from sepak takraw, UV's tennisters also grabbed two golds plus three silvers in tennis event played at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club.
UV's tandem of Hannah Espinosa and Christine Bellita defeated University of San Carlos' Emily Lazaga and Clarissa Fuentes, 8-4, to rule the secondary girls doubles.
Espinosa and Bellita's male counterparts, however, failed to duplicate their feat as they bowed to University of San Jose-Recoletos' Dan Cinco and Ralph Juliani, 8-4.
Another secondary bet of UV, Michael Necesario, just settled for a silver in the boys singles won by USC's Fritz Satera, 8-4, while Satera's teammate Sally Mae Siso lorded it over in the distaff side after crushing USJ-R's Glory Faith Bohol, 8-2.
In the tertiary division, UV ended with a gold and a silver, with Julie Ann Jopia and Genevieve Peticio outsmarting USJ-R's Sarah Abadia and Gina Baynohon, 8-3, to top the women's double.
UV's Jomer Pabo and Jeston Espinosa delivered the silver after losing to USJ-R's Kennex Abadia and Israel Abarquez, 3-8, in the men's doubles.
In the singles category, Bernardine Siso of USC pulled off an 8-4 triumph over USJ-R's Jayvee Canoy but Siso's older sister Sallydine fell prey to USJ-R's Rosette de la Peña, 8-3, in the women's final.
DBTC, SHS-Ateneo into football semis
Defending champion Don Bosco Technology Center and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu trounced separate rivals to assure themselves of semifinal berths in the second division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) football tournament at the University of San Carlos (USC)-Technological Center in Brgy. Talam-ban,this city.
DBTC mercilessly demolished the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), 10-1, while Sacred Heart-Ateneo blanked the University of San Jose-Recoletos, 6-0.
In the collegiate level though, reigning title-holder USJ-R Spriking Jaguars motored into the next phase of the competition after eliminating the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Booters, 4-0. (FREEMAN)