Baby Lady Jaguars seek CVDL crown
THE UNIVERSITY of the Cordilleras Baby Lady Jaguars got an upgrade to boost its bid for a sweep of the Cordillera Volleyball Developmental League for Elementary and Secondary Schools at the Benguet State University open gym.
After winning the 15-under and junior divisions in convincing fashion, UC’s Grade 712 team has its horn locked on the title by infusing more vital blood in its system.
Three former archrivals have joined the team to give extra boost in the two month long competitions that saw 29 teams enlisting.
Janine Ilustrado, Vivienne Paddayao and recently Karen Uligan are now full pledged Jaguars after enrolling at the school’s senior high program.
The result is a 25-11, 25-9 thumping of Ama and 25-18, 25-11 beating of Sablan National High School over the weekend.
But UC has yet to reach its full potential even with the three Apayao players in the line-up although Ilustrado and Paddayao saw action with the team last June as they swept the Tanduay Cup organized by Philippine Volleyball Federation president Boy Cantada.
The two blended well with UC mainstays to outstay Holy Angels of Pampanga in the finals. The two also took the beach volleyball crown. Rosemar Borlongan and Cherleine Calgo finished third.
Ilustrado and Uligan swept aside Borlongan, Via Montemayor, Jingle Egid and Vina Adviento in the 2016 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association beach volleyball tournament. Then they led their team to the Palarong Pambansa by beating Baguio led by UC players.
Back to back CARAA loses were also registered at the hands of the Pudtol Vocational High School squad, but with Adviento joining Ifugao for the Palaro last April, a bond was forged that saw the Baby Jags getting along well with the
Pudtol natives.
The final CVODLESS was finally staged after a busy September for volleyball where the Cordillera Volleyball Association gave in to the Batang Pinoy national finals and the recently concluded Milo Little Olympics Luzon finals when most of their referees officiated.
Baguio was also host the Rebisco Girls Volleyball Regional finals later last month.
A total of 29 teams have registered for the Grade 7 – 12 tournament of which three are for the senior high, while the bulk of 16 will be for girls open and another 13 have enlisted for the open boys, announced Edwardo.
The CVODLESS, Edwardo said, seeks new talents with “strong motivation, and a willingness to work extremely hard, are all characteristics of the successful athlete.”
CVODLESS also aims to redirect the objectives of coaches and not focus on power, winning trophies and fulfilling their own agenda.
The right attitudes are to mold “a group of individuals into a team and character (from the psychological point of view, be part of the game –love of sports, pass on knowledge, enjoyment of teaching players to play better and help them develop, the thrill and excitement of sports, help young players have fun, want to share the experience with your kids, nothing kills a team’s spirit faster than an apathetic coach and leadership is inspiring people to do their best.