It was a good day for COCians as the college’s women’s volleyball team, Chinchansu, performed a classic come-from-behind victory against the PUP Sta. Maria, Bulacan (PUP SMB) Campus to secure the bronze medal, 25-27, 25-15, 25-20, during the 2023 University Intramurals at the NDC Covered Court on October 24.
This is the sole podium finish of the college’s varsity on the intramurals.
It was an error-filled start for the Pureza-based squad, allowing the visiting team to be ahead early in the first set, 5-9.
During the 14-11 mark of the set, the match had to be paused for a significant amount of time due to the wet flooring caused by the heavy rains and to ensure the players’ safety.
Chinchansu gradually gained momentum after the long lull as they slowly picked up the points to lessen the lead, 22-18.
The set was not over as the ladies in pink went on a 4-0 run to tie the knot, 22-22. They eventually gained a 1-point lead owing to Princess Alperez’s placement spikes, and the team’s overall strong floor defense.
Despite a crucial ball-out call from the referees which tied the set again to 23, COC aimed to snatch the set from SMB as they arrived at set point, 23-24.
However, the Bulacan-based squad showed their composure as they forced Chinchansu to play an extended set, and a couple of costly errors at the end from the team of COC contributed to PUP SMB winning the first set, 25-27.
The second set’s start was a nip-and-tuck affair until Chinchansu found their groove with the help of their sharp services and winning long rallies, creating a space between the group in blue, 8-13.
Multiple errors were committed by the spikers of PUP SMB further ballooning the lead to 10-16.
SMB attempted to create a scoring run but it was evident that COC already smelled blood as Hannah Fil Geralde made a home run off the service line and went on a 14-3 run.
The Bulacan team was stuck at 10 for a large part of the set, which ended in an antenna error by COC. They tried to catch up but were still unable to create offense which the six on the other side of the court took advantage of to equalize the match.
In the winner-takes-all set, SMB, determined to bounce back from their horrendous second set performance, alongside COC’s miscommunications on the court, went on to take the lead in the first part, 8-13.
When Chinchansu was in danger of falling short of the bronze, Alperez stepped up and delivered by stringing several service aces which single-handedly revived the team, 12-13, from the brink of defeat.
Two attack errors from Sta. Maria ultimately changed the course of the set as COC finally captured the lead, 14-15.
After the timeout of SMB at 15-17 and their numerous unforced errors, Chinchansu never looked back as their floor defense became impenetrable, resulting in a comfortable lead for the remaining set.
The blue team tried to come back from the game, 20-22, but service errors ultimately killed their cause, and a strong spike by Geralde sent the college into third place in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the college Men’s volleyball team, Manikang Pandigma, ended their Intramurals stint with a final-four finish after falling before the College of Political Science and Public Administration (CPSPA), 25-22, 25-23, in the battle-for-third earlier that day.
This is the first time Manikang Pandigma reached the semifinals in the university intramurals since 2013.
It was a close and highly contested game throughout but CPSPA’s barrage of attacks was too difficult for Manikang Pandigma to handle.
The pink team tried to start a comeback in both of the latter parts of the set, but crucial errors in the service line cost them the game.
It was a gallant stand from COC as they lost one of their key players, Dionel Esteban, during the 4-8 mark of the first set due to a bad landing incident in one of the rallies.
Article: Toni Rose Baldovino
Graphics: Aldreich Pascual
Photo: Nicole Ann Beran
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