SWU, USJ-R near title in Cesafi volleyball

THE Southwestern University Lady Cobras and the University of San Jose-Recoletos Spiking Jaguars are now a win away from claiming the championships in the Cesafi volleyball tournament after they turned back their respective opponents in the opening games of the championship series in the collegiate division.

USJ-R outlasted the University of Southern Philippines Foundation in a thrilling five-setter, 25-20, 19-25, 25-23, 15-25, 15-10, in the men’s division the other night at the former’s homefloor in Basak while SWU repulsed the upstart Cebu Doctor’s University in the women’s class, 25-16, 27-25, 25-12 at the Aznar Coliseum,

Those wins proved crucial for the winners as they propelled them ahead in the best-of-three finals, 1-0.

SWU is aiming to reclaim the crown after losing it to the University of San Carlos last year, in the process getting denied a fourth straight title. USJ-R on the other hand, is hungry for the crown after last tasting it back in 2010, the tail-end of a powerful run that saw them win three straight championships.

The first set saw the Cobras take control behind the steady attacks of the towering Marlyn Llagoso. However, complacency reared its ugly head for SWU which allowed CDU to exploit the cracks in their armor, resulting in a 22-21 lead after a crafty drop shot by Danica Molinas. CDU even threatened to take the set at 24-22 but the Lady Cobras were rescued from the jaws of defeat by Llagoso and Charylou Wave Paden to send the game to extra points. SWU eventually prevailed to take a 2-0 set lead after a thunderous blast from Necca Llana.

After that heartbreaking set loss, CDU folded in the third set, giving SWU the easy win.

The girl’s team of SWU completed the sweep for the day as they also won the first game of their championship series against the University of San Carlos, 25-21, 14-25, 25-21. In the boy’s division, USC inched closer to the crown after beating the reigning champs, USJ-R, 21-25, 25-15, 25-21. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio