SWU, USJ-R start strong
THE reigning men’s champion Southwestern University (SWU) opened its title-retention bid on a high note by winning three matches in the first day of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) beach volleyball tournament yesterday at the Aznar Coliseum.
SWU’s Rommel Pepito and Dave Cabaron are fresh from winning the title in the 10th University Games beach volleyball tournament last month. They first defeated University of Cebu’s (UC) Jason Alota, Jeno Necessario and Clyde Gocotano, 21-11, 21-12 in the morning assignment. Later in the day, they defeated University of the Visayas’ John Rhey Aransa and Kevin Juban, 21-18, 21-17; and capped their day with a 21-12, 21-13 win over Cebu Institute of Technology University’s (CIT-U)’s John Mark Pacquiao and Charles Dirk Sator, 21-12, 21-13.
“I am happy that we were able to win all of our games today but I hope the team won’t be too complacent for tomorrow’s two remaining games in the elimination round, especially against the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R),” said SWU head coach Dave Arreza.
USJ-R’s Owen Belen and Kent Jay Verbosidad settled for third last year. They lost their chance to reach the finals after losing to the gritty team of the University of the Visayas (UV) in the semifinals.
But they are bent on changing their fate and won two games yesterday against the University of Southern Philippines Foundation’s (USPF) Left John Tormis and Cesafi indoor volleyball best libero John Patrick Villaflor, 21-16, 2114, and later against UV, 1821, 18-21.