LADY COBRAS WIN THEIR FIFTH TITLE
Janelle Cabahug wins title, MVP in first year leading SWU; UV makes it two in a row in men’s division
Former bench warmer Janelle Cabahug took the spotlight in her final year in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi), leading the Southwestern University (SWU-Phinma) Cobras to its fifth straight title in the women’s beach volleyball tournament.
The University of Visayas (UV) Green Lancers also had a share of the limelight after clinching backto-back titles in the men’s division at the Fort San Pedro beach volleyball field yesterday.
The Cobras stung the determined University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars in straight sets, 23-21, 21-16, with Cabahug hitting the title-clinching shot that gave SWU the historic five-peat.
Cabahug, the only player to be part of the Cobras’ 5- feat, waited for her turn to lead the team and she got it on her final year after being named as the team captain.
The 21-year-old Physical Education major showed her experience down the stretch and scored four of the last five points for Cobras in the second set.
“This year is my first time to play in the first two. The last four years, I was on the bench. I’m so happy that even if my teammates are new we’re still able to win the title,” said Cabahug, who was named the women’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Cabahug of Mandaue City partnered with Dyan Darantinao in the final, while Ivie Bautista was the third player.
“I have to give credit to my players and thank them for giving their best, especially to Janelle (Cabahug). She’s the most experienced among my players and I told her to guide them,” said head coach Dave Arreza.
On the other hand, UV threaded the needle to come up with a pulsating 24-22, 21-14, 15-12, also against the Jaguars.
The Lancers’ duo Raphy Abanto and John Kevin Juban had the better of Jaguars’ tandem of Kent Jay Verbosidad and Nino Alistair Gairanod in the final set after splitting the first two sets.
UV drew first blood and took the closely-contested first set, 2422, before USJ-R answered in the second, 21-14, to force the deciding third set.
Juban pulled UV to a strong start with two connections after errors from USJ-R for a 4-1 lead.
When things were going bright for the Green Lancers with a 12-7 lead, USJ-R came to life and put up a 4-0 blast to trim UV’s lead to one, 12-11.
Lady luck smiled on UV’s side as MVP Abanto aced his service that landed at the corner near the line after scoring a strong hit to put UV by three, 14-11.
USJ-R scored on a violation to narrow the gap before Juban connected a quick hit to end the game, 15-12.
“I’m proud and it’s very fulfilling for me to win the title on my first year and also the MVP. All our hardwork paid off,” said Abanto, 23, a third year business administration student.
Second year UV coach Jade Becaldo credited the team’s win to their continuous practice.
“We have the edge in endurance. My players were in top con- dition, they practice everyday— rain or shine,” said Becaldo.
Becaldo said that he’s happy that Abanto delivered on his Cesafi rookie season, playing alongside last year’s MVP Juban.
Becaldo said that when USJ-R took the second set, he told his player to relax.
“We have prepared for this and also we had lucky breaks on the third set just like the shot of Abanto that we thought would be away but luckily went down just inside the line,” he said.
The Green Lancers beat USP-F, 19-21, 21-17, 15-6, in the semis last Saturday to make it to finals, while the Cobras routed University of Cebu, 21-12, 21-7.