CEBU, Philippines - Bad luck strikes twice for University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) at the start of the semifinal round in women's volleyball event of the 13th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) season played at the Aznar Coliseum.
In the secondary girls division, the defending champion USJ-R belles bowed to the gutsy Southwestern University (SWU) in a three-set thriller, 28-30, 25-21, 26-24.
Down by four points in the last set, the SWU girls never gave up and saved four match points to get even with USJ-R, 24-24.
With momentum on its side, the SWU lady spikers made sure not to waste the chance given to them, put up a good defensive block before Angel Castillo sealed the win with an ace.
Moments later, USJ-R also went off a bad start, falling prey at the hands of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) in their heart-stopping duel that reached five sets.
The Lady Jaguars actually took the first set, 25-23, but the Lady Panthers bounced back in the second frame, 25-18.
USJ-R claimed the third set, 25-18, then continued to play hard in the fourth but missed to seal the game away as USPF stole the set via a 26-24 cliffhanger to forge a rubbermatch.
In the decider, the two protagonists fought tooth and until, but USPF proved to the hungrier and more determined squad at is emerged the victor via a 20-18 decision.
SWU and USPF hope to notch back-to-back wins when they take on the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and Cebu Doctors' University, respectively, tonight still at Azco. (FREEMAN)