USJ-R falters in title campaign again

CEBU, Philippines – What could have been a bright hope turned into a disaster for the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) as the Spiking Jaguars once again faltered in their title campaign after losing to their elimination round victim Foundation University (FU) in the semifinals of the men's volleyball event of the University Games 2010 yesterday at Silliman University in Dumaguete City.

As if gnawing their teeth to seek revenge, the FU Spiking Greyhounds surprised the previously undefeated USJ-R with a dominating 25-14 win in the first set.

Fighting with a wounded pride following that 11-point rout, USJ-R gave FU a tough battle in the second set resulting into an airtight duel and five deadlocks, the last was at 26-all before the Josenians eventually took the set, 28-26.

The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) grandslam champion again put up aggressive plays in the third canto, but the FU mainstays never allowed themselves to be left behind by the Cebuano visitors as they took the crucial set, 30-28.

With a never-say-die attitude, USJ-R of legendary coach Grace Antigua still continued to give their best shot by taking a hairline lead, 23-22, but that proved to be their last gasp of breath as the more determined FU bets swept the next three racks for the kill, 25-23.

In beach volley, inaugural men's champion Edward Ybañez and Jonrey Opone of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) suffered a double whammy.            The Ybañez-Opone tandem lost to Far Eastern University (FEU), 21-23, and to Mindanao State University (MSU) Tawi-Tawi, 18-21.

In the distaff side though, Cebu bets Apple Eve Saraum and Dianne Navaja of USPF and Danika Yolanda Gendrauli and Lorie May Layno of Southwestern University (SWU) hurdled their respective opening assignments.

USPF slammed the University of the Philippines (UP), 21-17, while SWU thrashed Adamson University, 21-10. (FREEMAN)