INQUIRER Sports

The Vipers of the Pajo National High School are making their way back to the national championships of the Shakey's Girls V-League for a second straight year.

This after the belles of head coach Fr. Rolando Manayon took the title in the Cebu eliminations folllowing a straight-set victory over University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Lady Baby Panthers yesterday at the Pusok National High School gym in Lapu-Lapu City.

Pajo continued its dominance against the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) juniors division champions Baby Panthers as it ruled the first two sets before coming back from an early deficit in the third stanza to take a 25-19, 25-22, 25-21 victory in the finals.

Pajo also beat USPF in the finals of the same tournament last year and placed third in the national finals held in Bacolod City.

The Vipers will represent Cebu in the nationals, which will be held at the USPF gym in Lahug on Nov. 19 to 21. They will go up against the best squads from Bacolod, NCR, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro.

After a first set rout, the Vipers found themselves in a dogfight. After establishing a 22-18 lead behind stellar plays from Athena and Christy Sucalit, USPF found their bearings and tied the match at 22-all after a spike by Cyd Demecillo.

Pajo regained their composure and dished out consecutive points behind the Sucalits to end the set in their favor.

The Lady Panthers appeared headed to extending the match and sending it to a fourth set as they zoomed off to a 8-2 lead.

However, with Pajo trailing 14-15, the Vipers went on a rampage, scoring six straight points behind service aces by Marjorie Coloscos and conversions by Athena Sucalit, that erected a 20-15 advantage.

Catherine Marquez and Gretchel Soltones then put the final touches on the win with several spike attacks that sealed the deal for the Vipers.

The two squads set up the title showdown after winning over their respective opponents in the semifinal round, earlier in the day. USPF dealt rivals University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) a 25-19, 28-26 defeat while Pajo beat CIC-Mandaue, 25-13, 25-12.