CESAFI: USJ-R Spiking Jaguars strike first in men’s volleyball finals

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) Spiking Jaguars are one game away from clinching the 2016 CESAFI Senior Men’s Volleyball title following a 25-21, 25-20, 25-21, 25-23 defeat of the two-time defending champions, the Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Spiking Cobras, Saturday afternoon, November 18, at the University of San Carlos (USC) gym.

Earlier, the University of the Visayas (UV) Spiking Lancers copped third place in a knockout game after besting last year’s first runner-up, the USC Warriors, in a 5-set thriller, 17-25, 13-25, 25-20, 25-23, 12-15. 

USJ-R head coach Grace Antigua, a former national team member, said that although her team had a psychological advantage over the defending champions having beaten them twice during the eliminations, it was something that she had firmly told her boys not to put in their heads.

“They need the confidence. If they were confident in their game now, they need more than that tomorrow,” said Antigua referring to Game 2, wherein the Cobras could still forge a rubbermatch should they be able to muster enough venom to level the Best of 3 Finals series.

Game 2 will be held tomorrow, November 20, at the same venue following the Game 2 of the CESAFI Women’s contest.

“What they did was a team effort, there was communication. But we need to correct our services tomorrow because we are making a lot of error in our serves,” said Antigua.

Antigua further added that before the game, she had told her boys to keep their cool, just relax, no tension at all and play in the same way they have been doing during their practices.

The former national team member standout said that she was glad that her boys had played at par with the Cobras whom she said had the advantage with their height. The tallest Cobra stand at 6 feet and 3 inches, John Edward Carascal.

She added that she had told the boys to be on the look out for their spikes as they are sure to be powerful coming from tall players. “I told them the opponent can have one strong point, we can have the weak points but we make it 3.”  

As for tomorrow, Antigua said she will be telling her ward to think positive and keep up their fighting spirit.

Should the USJ-R win they will be ending a 2-year drought and at the same time stopped the SWU from clinching their third straight win.

Leading the USJ-R were team captain Kent Jay Verbosidad, Roejn Pace and Alastair Ian Gairanod whose drop sealed Game 1 for USJ-R. – Rappler.com