UM spikers write history

Make way for another national champion from Davao.
University of Mindanao became the latest addition to Davao’s growing list of national champions this year. The Wildcats took home the national MNCAA volleyball title in Naga City recently in what could be the first ever national volleyball crown for Davao.
“I don’t know if there was any but I think this will go down as a first national title in volleyball for UM and probably the city,” said UM sports director Joaquin Sarabia.
The UM spikers came back from a first set loss to turn the tables around highly-fancied Centro Escolar University 23-25, 26-24, 25-28, 28-26, in the finals before a shocked pro-NCR crowd.
The Wildcats advanced to their first stint in the MNCAA National Games after beating its archrivals Holy Cross of Davao and Davao Merchant Marine Academy during the eliminations last February.
John Rick Bacus led the Wildcats in their title run, eventually being rewarded with the most valuable player honors in the tournament. “It’s a team effort. Siguro yung leadership lang ang naging malaking contribution ko,” said Bacus in the weekly Davao Sportsswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn.
“The boys really tried their best to win. Nagsakripisyo sila, mahirap ang dinaanan naming, pati ang byahe naming papunta sa Naga,” said winning coach Jonathan Exequiel Vanta.
The volleyball title came after Davao’s basketball squads Jose Maria College (collegiate) and Assumption College of Davao (secondary) also won the National Students Basketball Championship (NSBC) last month.
The Wildcats leaned also on power-hitting Paul John Saraga who was named best spiker, and Reymark Anthony Demeterio who won best setter honors.
The rest of the team included Marvin Antonio, Peter Paul Tagalog, Gilbert Abis, Francis Caunga, Antine John Escosia, Daryl Baga-an, Rod Michael Nunez, Shier Khan Bakil, and Jerard Lendl Lanaban. Assisting Vanta is coach Manuel Ramirez Jr.
The Wildcats hope to see action in three more major tournaments this year—the PRISAA National Championship late this month, the Philippine National Games in May, and the University Games in October.