MJC, PAF spikers share top honors
Both teams encounter rough sailing in the men and women’s finals of the Mayor’s Cup Volleyball
MJC spikers and the Philippine Air Force Team A volleybelles ruled the 1st Cagayan de Oro Fiesta Volleyball men and women’s open tournament, which ended here on Monday at the Corpus Christi gym.
Both MJC and PAF A went to a tight match on their way to a titular finish in their respective divisions.
In a thrilling start, the Cignal HD-powered MJC drew first blood against the Philippine Navy blockers, 25-23 but the latter bounced back, 25-19 to even the match.
However, MJC got stronger as the troika of Edmar Bonono, Karl Dela Calzada and Sako Capate led the charge in closing the third set by rout, 25-13.
The Navymen were quick to adjust as they turned to Kurl “The Skywalker” Rosete.
From a seesaw battle that went to a 24-all standoff, Rosete connected a baseline attack then scored another one from the left flank as the Philippine Navy forced a deciding fifth set.
Things went tighter in the final set marked by an 11-all deadlock in the race-to-15 squabble that saw JMC capitalizing on the Navy’s three forced errors that gave them a 3-point lead at 14-11.
A powerful smash by Capate put an exlaclamation mark to JMC’s 15-11 clincher route to bagging the men’s title.
“Wala kasi kami nakakuha ng maayos na reception doon. In fact, ready na kami sa aming offensives,” said Navy coach Edgardo Rusit.
Meanwhile, PAF A lady spikers nipped the Navy volleybelles in the women’s final.
From a 2-2 deadlock in the series, PAF broke a 5-all tie and built a 10-6 lead in the deciding set.
Iya Yongco and Joy Cases made sure to maintain the gap and conspired in the remaining plays as PAF snatched the women’s championship away from the Navy bannered by the popular duo of Joy Soriano and Noreen Jane Diaz.
Quarter finalist Megantech was the only team to give PAF a big scare in their memorable face-off for the semis slot.
From a game each in the best-of-3 series, Megantech pulled a two-point lead midway of the final set, 19-17.
But, they went cold afterwards when PAF unleashed a fierce rally and found a break for the win.
PAF’s male counterparts landed third in men’s division, while Exodus took the fourth place.