SWU-PHINMA WINS NAT’L. BEACH VOLLEY

Despite the lack of preparation, Southwestern University-Phinma women’s beach volleyball squad wins National Inter-Collegiate Women’s Beach Volley title

The Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma once again proved that it has one of the most talented female beach voleyball players in the country after winning the Tanduay Athletics PVF National Inter-Collegiate Women's Beach Volleyball Championship last weekend at the Cantada Sports Center in Taguig City.

The SWU-Phinma duo of Janelle Cabahug and Ivie Bautista defeated Rizal Technological University (RTU) in three closely-contested sets, 21-19, 1821, 15-12, in the championship match.

SWU-Phinma got the first set, 21-19, and lost the second set , 18-21. With the match going to a third and deciding set, SWU-Phinma beat RTU, 15-12.

With a new tandem of Cabahug and Bautista, and with no preparation, coach Lemuel Arreza didn't know what to expect in the tournament.

"We didn't expect to win. But I saw the other teams and I knew that they could take them on," Arreza told SunStar Cebu.

"We didn't have any training. It was a do-or-die situation for us here."

SWU-Phinma did more than expected and dominated the elimination round, going unbeaten in three games, defeating the University of Luzon, RTU and Jose Maria College of Davao.

SWU-Phinma then crushed Capitol University of Cagayan de Oro in the semifinals after a twoset sweep - 21-13 and 21-16 - to set up a rematch with State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) beach volleyball champion RTU.

This was the first time Cabahug and Bautista competed together in a national tournament. They already had experience playing with each other in the local level.

"They are okay but they need to focus on their training," said Arezza.

"I told them to do your best, just enjoy the game, communicate with each other and listen to the coach."

Cabahug is one of the SWU-Phinma trio that won the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) beach volleyball tournament last December. Her teammates were Therese Rae Ramas and Floremel Rodriguez.

CONTRIBUTED BEST TEAM. Janelle Cabahug (left) and partner Ivie Bautista (right) along with coach Lemuel Arreza bucked the odds to win the PVF National Inter-Collegiate Women’s Beach Volleyball title. The team has only recently been formed and had not had any training prior to the tournament.