CEBU, Philippines - The University of San Carlos (USC) Spiking Warriors shot back to the limelight after they upended defending champion University of San Jose-Recoletos in a grueling five-set battle in the men's action of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) volleyball tournament at the Aznar Coliseum.
USJ-R of Cebu Sports Hall of Famer coach Grace Antigua started hot, taking the first set, 25-21, behind the attacks of Kevin Casia, James Lawas and Jason Uy.
The gritty Warriors, however, bounced back by claiming the next two sets, 25-20, 25-23, behind the efforts of Kennith Bensig, Bonvie Estrera, Jerone Maestre, Harvey Bernil and Dennis Sepulveda.
The Jaguars did not give up that easy as they secured the fourth set, 25-18, to forge a do-or-die game.
In the deciding set, both teams were locked up in an air-tight battle resulting to four deadlocks before USJ-R cruised to a 13-10 edge. But USC’s Bonvie Estrera took matters into his own hands scoring three successive points to knot the count at 13-all.
USJ-R got the matchpoint advantage courtesy of James Lawas, but Estrera’s powerful attack forced a 14-all deadlock.
The score was tied for the last time at 17-all as Estrera and Ryan Fuentes delivered on their attacks to wrap up the match for USC, 19-17.
In the distaff side though, the USJ-R Lady Jaguars fended off the University of Cebu (UC) in straight sets, 25-17, 25-12, 25-22.
USJ-R's triumph was courtesy of the comebacking Michelle Simbajon, who utilized her last playing year, along with Ma. Abigail Praca, Mona Carla Dubduban, Mytha Padillo, Kaisse de los Santos and Luigi Gomez.
In the secondary division, the University of Southern Philippines (USPF) Baby Panthers trounced Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC), 25-15, 25-20.
In the girls class, USJ-R pummeled UC, 25-13, 25-12, USC clobbered USPF in three sets, 25-22, 19-25, 25-14, while UC defeated Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U), 25-9, 25-14. - (THE FREEMAN)