GENRÉ - THE CENTRAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY - PHILIPPINES

Cushman Campus
Mabini Extension Cabanatuan City
Philippines, 3100

SPORTS NEWS
Writer(s):Raiya Villanueva
Assigned by: EIC, Athina Bales
Date Given: March 21-24, 2023
Deadline: Monday, March 27, 2023

TOPIC: PALARONG WESLEYAN VOLLEYBALL WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP

TITLE: Dragons' Fire at the Court: Recreation of Passion and Success

LEAD: Eyeing the crown with sensational attacks, the CBA Dragons prevailed over the
CCJE Red Stallions for good. They launched a furious 3-0 (25-23, 25-12, 26-24) win in
the Women’s Volleyball Championship of Palarong Wesleyan 2023 at the WU-P Sports
and Cultural Center on March 24, 2023.

In addition to the tremendous amount of sweat and tension lurking on the scoreboard as
the red lights add up on the clock, the fight-or-flight response steals the sanity of every
player on the court. Was the loud clamoring of the audience evidence of their desire to
make a point? Or a powerful feed of the players' genuine commitment to the sport?

After two years of pandemic, everyone's enthusiasm could be felt as supporters of the
CBA Dragons and CCJE Red Stallions, embodying their green and red shirts, gathered
on March 24 in the morning to provide encouragement for the top-tier teams. They were
thrilled to witness the Palarong College 2023 Women's Category Championship.

The CBA Dragons and CCJE Red Stallions fought for the last women's team standing on
the blistering court. They overcame the pre-eliminations, semi-finals, and elimination of
the CONAMS LIONS as the second-place volleyball women's winner.

The captain of the CBA Dragons and star player, Dennise Mateo (6), has always known
that a volleyball player must be tough on the court. This is if they are to play with
passion. Despite being one of the youngest on her team, everyone respected her and gave
her the chance to lead the Dragons. Her experience and leadership as captain served as
the team's primary sources of knowledge. Communication is the key. Mateo redefined
teamwork by having the whole team understand their own positions on defense and
offense. This was done to create a healthy relationship and gameplay inside and outside
the court.

Mateo affirmed and asserted that over the previous days of the Palarong Wesleyan, the
CCJE Red Stallions volleyball women's team stands as their most grueling playoff
opponent given that they previously defeated the Dragons from their clamor on Day 2 of
the pre-elimination round, and as a result, finding themselves facing off against them
 GENRÉ - THE CENTRAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY - PHILIPPINES
Cushman Campus
Mabini Extension Cabanatuan City
Philippines, 3100

SPORTS NEWS
Writer(s):Raiya Villanueva
Assigned by: EIC, Athina Bales
Date Given: March 21-24, 2023
Deadline: Monday, March 27, 2023
again in the championship gives the Dragons a wild rush of adrenaline. Nonetheless, the
CBA Dragons defeated the CCJE Red Stallions in the first set of the game by a score of
25–23, owing to the solid defense of Bacani (11), Azarcon (14) and N. Dela Cruz (12),
who often assisted Mateo with wild offensive attacks.

As the second set of the finals progressed, Mateo scored first point after countering the
Stallions' ferocious energy whenever they attempted to dig and dink Mateo's attack, who
for the first few minutes scored three straight points. Samantha Azarcon, fueled by her
captain's lead, also provided straight service aces. Lorelaine Acosta (23), the captain of
the CCJE Red Stallion, watched closely as Acosta dug and used her energy to steal a
point from the Dragons.

Lea Mae Estares (04) stood out with an effortless quick, forcing Pratt (05) and Ramos
(11) of the Stallions to sprint as quickly as they could to save the ball as it was a crucial
moment once more while Mateo maintained her momentum with service aces. While
Acosta encouraged her team members to maintain their presence of mind during the 9-5
score play led by the Dragons, the Stallions became aware of the heated atmosphere on
their side of the court. Due to the fact that every member of the team was playing for the
first time during the Palarong Wesleyan 2023, Acosta understood and felt the
nervousness in every member, especially knowing that they were going head-to-head
with the Dragons.

The long rally yielded a few backrow hits, kills, and free-ball opportunities that carried
the momentum of both teams, which ended when an attack error from the Stallions
occurred. The atmosphere soon boiled over for the Stallions when the rotation error
happened on their service play. Alive to survive the deuce match, Acosta, Pratt, Bajo,
Mendoza, Ramos, and Tapang of the CCJE Red Stallions fought against Mateo, Lagasca,
N. Dela Cruz, Bacani, Azarcon, and Estares of the CBA Dragons, who prevailed in the
second set 26-24.

Azarcon (14) maintained to dig and protect their side with Bacani in the third set
regarding Mateo's few attack errors. The stallions made sure that the power would spur
on their side as they scored the opening point of the third set. Following a
misunderstanding between their coach and the referees on the time-out issues, CCJE was
warned. While the Dragons held their breath throughout the lengthy rally for the 6-12
score, the Stallions continued to build their offensive capabilities. Mateo, though,
finished the rally with determination to maintain the set on their line. In order to lift their
 GENRÉ - THE CENTRAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY - PHILIPPINES
Cushman Campus
Mabini Extension Cabanatuan City
Philippines, 3100

SPORTS NEWS
Writer(s):Raiya Villanueva
Assigned by: EIC, Athina Bales
Date Given: March 21-24, 2023
Deadline: Monday, March 27, 2023
spirits and serve as a reminder of who they are, the CCJE quickly requested a formal time
out to breathe. This was after Acosta noticed how rattled and nerve-wrecked her team
mates became during the third set.

Following that, the CCJE Red Stallions continued to provide the game's offense,
especially Bajo, Mendoza, Acosta, Tapang and Ramos, who tried to spike their shot for a
point only to be laid back by Bacani's saving grace. Soon after regaining her composure,
Pratt launched an offensive attack that finished the protracted rally with a score of 9–13.

The Dragons maintained their composure throughout and handled the Stallions' offensive
difficulties with strong defense, releasing dominance inside the court. The Dragons soon
got a close call, scoring 22 points against the Stallions, who were stuck on their 12-point
lead and winning the game by a narrow margin. The CCJE Red Stallions offered the
CBA Dragons to replace all six of their players from both teams with other players
during the final seconds of the third set, when both coaches had already accepted their
fate in the championship. The final few minutes of the play set took on a comical tone
when all of the CBA Dragons' substitute players had the opportunity to enter the court
and square off against the Stallions' players.

"I think (ang) pinaka nag dala po sa'min sa championship game na 'to is 'yung trust and
respect namin sa isa't-isa, and the way we communicate inside the court, sobrang
overwhelming ng feeling," Mateo expressed her commendation for the connection that
each and every member of their team has built during the 8 days of training preparation
for the Palaro.

"Kampeon ang Dragon!" With a final score of 25–12, the CBA Dragons locked the CCJE
Red Stallions inside their own cell, earning themselves the title of 2023 Palarong
Wesleyan volleyball women's champions.