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BORACAY—Jusabelle
Brillo and Janez Armie Igot appeared to have gotten rid
of the pressure of being the duo to watch as the
power-spiking duo from the University of the Visayas
(UV) made their presence felt with a bang in the 12th
Nestea Beach Volley National Finals Thursday at the Hey!
Jude @ D’Mall sand court.
Brillo
and Igot displayed the stuff that won them the crown
last year as they thumped the University of Southern
Philippines Foundation (USPF) pair of Herlene Ybarita
and Erika Camille Verano, 21-11, 21-16.
“Our
goal is really to defend the title,” said Igot. “It’s
not enough that we made it back here, and anything less
than winning this tournament will be a disappointment to
us.”
RISSA JANE LAGUILLES of
Adamson University makes a successful return against the
Lady Falcons’ opponents from Southwestern University. -- ROY
DOMINGO
“Yes,
the pressure is still there, but we’re able to overcome
it and win this first match. We just hope that we could
continue to do so,” added Brillo.
The
pressure will be at its highest for the UV pair when
they collide with Janelle Tabio and Florian Gutierrez of
three-time champion Southwestern University (SWU), whom
they narrowly beat in last year’s title match.
SWU
scored an equally impressive 21-13, 21-16 triumph over
Luzon’s top qualifier Adamson U of Rizza Jane Laguilles
and Angela Benting.
“We know
that they [Tabio and Gutierrez] are determined to get
back on us. But we’re ready,” said Igot. “This time,
we’ll have to bring out our killer spikes. Against USPF,
we just leaned on placings,” said Igot.
UV and
SWU were joined in the winners’ row by University of
Mindanao (UM)-Davao as the tandem of Maricel Cabus and
Janice Arnaiz blasted Lyceum’s Dahlia Cruz and Syvie Gay
Artales, 21-13, 21-9.
Meanwhile, University of Perpetual Help Dalta (UPHD), a
first-timer in the national finals, played like a
grizzled veteran team, posting two consecutive wins to
show the way in the men’s division.
The
tandem of Aristian Sartin and Marcelo Joaquin Jr.
celebrated their first game on the powdery white sand of
this island-paradise by outwitting Holy Cross of Davao
College’s Allen Jay Sales and Celboy Atendido, 21-17,
22-20, before extending their party by squeaking past
Mindanao-leg winner Capitol U of Kiven Escobal and John
Michael Vivares, 13-21, 21-17, 15-7, and loom as a
revelation in the three-day competition.
“We did
not come here just to play and have fun. We came here to
win, to prove that we deserve to be part of this
tournament and that we can be the best team in the
country,” said Marcelo, who was actually diagnosed with
rheumatic heart disease but was allowed to play after a
series of medical tests.
“Meron
daw lumalaking muscle sa heart ko that
is blocking my artery but I feel good. I don’t feel sick
or weak at all,” he said.
The Las
Piñas-based duo gun for their third-straight win and a
seat to the semifinals when they go up against the
Visayas topnotcher USPF of James Ryan Rivera and Jonrey
Sasing, who nosed out University of St. La Salle’s Mark
Sabusap and Marlon Luces, 18-21, 21-12, 15-13.
Former
champion Foundation U and UM-Tagum also won their
opening matches to move into the winners’ side of the
draw.
Foundation, now bannered by Rolando Agus and Arnel
Amadeo outlasted Philippine Christian University’s
Jhester Tuante and Gabriel Usman, 20-22, 21-12, 15-7,
while the UM-Tagum duo of Raquelito Tayabas and Roweel
Fabian held off Luzon-leg champion Far Easter University
of Edjet Mabbayad and Jerry Mabutol, 21-11, 23-21.
The
Nestea Beach Volley 2008 is sponsored by by Havaianas,
Speedo, Mikasa, Penshoppe, Tagum Beach Volley Drome at
Rotary Park, University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, Island
Cove Hotel and Leisure Park, Crystal Sand Beach Resort,
Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay,
D’Mall D’Boracay and Hey! Jude Hotel Resort. |
