When a door is closed, another one will open. This is the valuable lesson that the belles of Southwestern University learned as they nabbed the championship in the Central Visayas eliminations of the 10th Shakey’s Girls V-League after defeating the reigning champions Pajo National High School in the finals yesterday at the Aznar Coliseum.
Just a week after losing the girls juniors title in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) in heartbreaking fashion to the University of San Jose-Recoletos, SWU rose from the ashes of that defeat and soared to take the title away from Pajo in straight sets, 25-15, 25-23, 25-17.
The girls of head coach Jordan Paca, who later on, was given the Best Coach award, booked a slot in the championship match after disposing of St. Theresa’s College in straight set fashion, 25-20, 25-14, in the semifinals earlier in the day.
Likewise, Pajo of head coach Rolando Manayon got past the visiting Silliman University with a dominant, 25-8, 25-10 win.
Aside from the crown, SWU also had some of its players snatch special awards with the highest distinction going to star setter Maria Christina Gonzales, who got the Best Setter and Most Valuable Player awards. The Best Receiver plum went the way of Therese Rae Ramas while the Best Attacker was given to Sheila Mae Bongo.
The Best Blocker was STC’s Tovyakaiko Gallon while the Best Server was Pajo’s Apple Roiles.
The title means that SWU will be representing the region in the Tournament of Champions slated for Jan. 22 to 26, 2013. Third place honors was won by STC after they dispatched of SU, 22-25, 25-14, 26-24, 25-19.