USC dethrones USJ-R
Wins Central and Eastern Visayas leg of Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League
The University of San Carlos - BED volleybelles crowned themselves as the new queen of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League Season 12's Central and Eastern Visayas leg after they dethroned 2013 champions University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars yesterday at the Aznar Coliseum in Urgello, Cebu City.
The title was USC’s second in secondary volleyball in only three weeks time. Last week, the Carolilnians captured the 19th Milo Little Olympics Visayas Championship secondary girls volleyball tiara.
With Lyanna Kae Abellana, Fressel Mendoza, Kate Chantal Rodriguez, Aira Jean Sator, Roby Claire Villaceran at the helm, the USC spikers fought relentlessly versus erstwhile champions USJ-R in the opening set as both teams fought tooth-and-nail every inch of the way, paving for the game to be brought to a couple of slide points before USC finally prevailed, 28-26.
The second set was still as tightly-fought as the first but USC’s determination shone through as they posted a more comfortable 25-19 victory to gain a two-set edge going into the pivotal third set against USJ-R, which was spearheaded by Denise Angeline Subingsubing, Anna Marie Aldave, Ma. Deanna Izabella Wong, Daniella Alfeche and Florani Camacho.
The last and final set turned out to be the third as USC never gave USJ-R head coach Roldan Potot and his wards a chance in logging in a 25-18 win to take the set and the championship crown of the event backed by Mikasa, Asics, SWU and the Philippine Volleyball Federation.
“I feel so happy that we finally got this one. We have been joining in this Shakey’s tournament from the start and it’s the first time we won the title. Focus and teamwork worked well for us,” said USC coach Vanessa Juezan.
They lost to USJ-R during their last game in the elimination round, but Juezan revealed that she did not let her wards play all-out to save energy for what they anticipate a rigorous final battle. Her tactics turned out well as they had the last laugh over USJ-R.
Aside from winning the championship, USC also advanced into the League of Champions slated on January 18-23, 2015 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City where they will go up against the six other regional champions as well four foreign teams from the United States, New Zealand, and Australia.
Earlier, the Southwestern University Baby Cobras snared the third place honors after beating the hard-fighting Pajo National High School in straight sets, 22-25, 25-23, 25-20.
The five-day tournament was also made possible by Sun Cellular, Phenomenal Eight Event Horizons, Metro Sports, Nature’s Spring and Radical Ads.—