Catmon volleybelles keep crown as GUV Cup champs

CEBU, Philippines — For years, the municipality of Catmon in northern Cebu has established a reputation as volleyball powerhouse in the province.

Catmon galvanized that status after it successfully defended its throne, outclassing Mandaue City in four sets, 25-7, 25-20, 17-25, 25-17, in their final match to emerge as champions in Season 10 of the One Cebu Island Governor Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball (GUV) Cup for Women yesterday at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

“I’m very happy because after all the trials we’ve gone through, we are able to win the championship again. This means a lot for us,” said coach Vilma Veloso, the chief architect behind Catmon’s highly successful volleyball program that brought the town seven titles in the Palarong Pambansa and five crowns in the Milo National Finals among their countless accomplishments.

“It’s our preparation, teamwork, and discipline that lead us to victory, and of course, the all-out support of our LGU,” added Veloso.

Catmon displayed great team effort but Casiey Monique Dongallo shined the brightest with her explosive showing, carrying out powerful attacks and executing smart plays with finesse to silence the huge throng of drum-beating Mandaue supporters from the get go.

“It’s truly an honor that our team won again. We are still champions and it feels good,” said the 17-year-old Dongallo, who was also in action when Catmon ruled the previous edition of the annual tournament in 2019 before it was disrupted by the pandemic for two consecutive years.

Behind the superb all-around performance of Dongallo, Catmon battered Mandaue in the first set, using a fierce 16-2 opening assault to a come up with a 25-7 blowout.

Mandaue came out firing in the second frame and even led twice, the last was at 10-9 as Catmon countered with a searing 12-2 run to regain control, 21-12.

Mandaue pulled within just three, 20-23, but Catmon responded with back-to-back hits to take a commanding 2-0 advantage.

With their backs against the wall, Mandaue fought with a sense of urgency in the third set, never looking back after racing to a 7-3 start.

The closest Catmon could come was at 9-11 as Mandaue staged a daring 14-8 rally to stay alive.

Regaining their poise and composure in the fourth set, Catmon rolled to a 3-0 start. Mandaue could only knot the count at 7-all as Catmon made a 10-3 spurt to rip the game apart, 17-10.

Mandaue came close for the last time at 15-19 as Catmon rattled five straight points before Dongallo, who was part of the Philippine team in last year’s 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, delivered the final kill.