USPF, USJ-R make strong statements in V-League Visayas men’s opener

The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars stamped their class early, sweeping their respective opponents on opening day of the V-League Visayas Men’s Division preliminaries at the USJ-R Coliseum, July 6.

USPF started their campaign on a dominant note, dispatching Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) in straight sets, 25-17, 25-23, 25-22. Jasper Judilla spearheaded the Panthers’ offense with 12 points, supported by Christian Casas and Ben Villabito’s all-around performances that anchored their net defense and steady scoring.

Despite the loss, CIT-U’s Kent Astorga showed promise with a team-high 12 points, while Shem Rosal and Justine Manzano kept the Wildcats close with their defensive stops and second-ball efforts. However, critical errors in the closing stages of each set hampered CIT-U’s chance for a comeback.

Meanwhile, USJ-R displayed cohesion and sharp execution in their wire-to-wire win over the University of the Philippines Cebu (UPC), 25-23, 25-22, 25-13. The Jaguars leaned on a balanced attack and aggressive front-row coverage to dismantle the Fighting Maroons, who struggled to gain offensive rhythm despite a gritty start in the first two sets.

All matches in the preliminaries are scheduled on weekends throughout July, setting the stage for high-stakes clashes in the hunt for regional volleyball supremacy.