Lady Cards opens title retention bid with big win

Redjie Melvic Cawis Photo

WOMEN’S defending titlist University of Baguio Lady Cardinals needed only 45 minutes to dispatch Pines City Colleges as action heats up in volleyball competition of the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League season 26.

In making short work of the Lady Warriors, the Lady Cardinals scored 25-5, 25-10, 25-3 win as it sets in its motion for another shot at retaining the title they won over rival and neighbor Saint Louis University Lady Navigators.

But it would still be a long way to the top for the Gen. Luna based squad as it lost three in their starting six including Mylene Paat, a vital cog in their last year’s championship run.

“We definitely lack the height but we will try to make it up by strengthening our defense,” said coach Jun Nisperos.

Even with returning team captain Mhey Madulid and Joan Lunday at the front line, Nisperos said their rival SLU will still be the team to beat in this year’s tournament as it beefed up with high school players taken from the Palarong Pambansa.

“SLU will still be the team to beat because of their line up although marami din ang nawala sa kanila,” added Nisperos.

Nisperos said he will just have to rely to his four veterans, five rookies and three come backing sophomores.

Early on, the SLU Lady Navigators opens their title bid during the weekend as it scored a back to back win over the Lady Warriors, 25-5, 25-3, 25-12, then followed it up with three set victory against Baguio Central University Lady Eagles, 25-4, 25-6, 25-14.

Six time champion University of the Cordilleras Lady Jaguars also scored a three set victory against the Lady Eagles, 25-12, 25-8, 25-21 with Cordillera Career Development College Lady Admirals escaping University of the Philippines Baguio, 25-17, 25-7, 25-18.