Lady Cardinals diffuse Lady Navigators

IT TOOK five years to beat them in five sets.

Larry Fabian photo

Although it will still be a long way for the University of Baguio Lady Cardinals, it was nonetheless one of their best games ever after defeating Saint Louis University Lady Navigators of the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League women's volleyball season 25.

That victory took five years in the making as the Assumption based spikers finally nailed one against their Bonifacio counterpart in a grueling 22-25, 25-15, 29-27,20-25, 15-11 in the eliminations round at the UC gym during the weekend.

It was a long written essay indeed for the Lady Cardinals when they finally broke the slump and recovered from their first set setback after committing more errors, 11 of them while converting 10 attacks.

"We just made adjustment sa service tsaka I told them na bantayan lang ng maigi yung mga spikers nila," said coach Jun Nisperos of the Cardinals.

And his instructions was finally carried out with ease by the Lady Cardinals who had seven errors during the second set and converting 15 of their attacks in the second set.

And from then on, the team picked up their phase to push the game into a five set decider.

"We're very happy kasi finally yung mga plays na ginagawa namin during practice eh nagawa nilang mabuti during the game," he said.

But there's no reason for celebration yet for the Lady Cardinals as they need to hurdle defending champion University of the Cordilleras Lady Jaguars this Sunday, August 28 at the BSU gym.

"If they want to continue winning, kailangan nilang sundin lahat ng mga plays at wag silang matakot," quipped Nisperos.

But the defending champion Lady Jaguars will still be a tough nut to crack after beating University of the Philippines-Baguio Lady Maroons in three sets, 25-7, 25-20, 25-16.

"We'll just play our best, bilog naman ang bola eh," said Lady Jaguars head coach Ysang Tolentino who is now rebuilding the squad after six years of reign.

In other games, Benguet State University Lady Wildcats edged Baguio Central University Lady Eagles, 25-16, 25-19, 25-18 while Cordillera Career Development College lady Admirals dumped a hapless Pines City Colleges Warriors, 25-6, 25-6, 25-9. (Roderick Osis)


Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on August 27, 2011.