UV claims women''s crown in Nestea Beach Volleyball

BORACAY ISLAND - The M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF)-backed University of the Visayas (UV) conquered former grandslam champion Southwestern University (SWU) in straight sets in a very exciting all-Cebu finals to wrest the women''s division title of the 11th Nestea Beach Volley yesterday here at the country''s tropical paradise.

Brandishing their usual solid form and decisive attacks, UV''s immovable tandem of Jusabelle Brillo and Janez Armie Igot wiped out SWU''s equally-tough duo of Marites Natad and Janelle Tabio, 22-20, 21-15, to take home the whopping P150,000 champion''s purse.

"UV has not won a championship in women''s volleyball and I''m very proud and happy that we were able to deliver it," said an ecstatic Brillo, who got an offer to join the Philippine team because of her impressive showing during the Visayas elimination of the event last month in Manila.

The Raffy Briones-mentored UV, which barged into the final round after kicking out Holy Cross of Davao College, 21-17, 21-15, raced to a 4-1 start in the first set, but SWU controlled most part of the match since grabbing the driver''s seat, 5-4.

SWU, which booked the remaining championship ticket by ousting Adamson University (ADU), even took an 8-5 lead, but Brillo''s well-calculated plays and Igot''s porous defensive stops rallied UV back in front, 20-19. SWU forged a slide on Natad''s good return, but Igot did not give their foes some breathing space by drilling in back-to-back hits for UV to draw first blood, 22-20.

UV again jumped off to a 4-1 start in the second fame and preserved it at 8-4 cushion, but SWU preyed on the spate of errors by the Visayanians to counter with a searing 8-1 blitz leading to a 12-9 edge.

SWU was ahead for the last time at 13-12 as it wilted under a relentless offensive launched by Brillo and Natad.

With SWU''s offense and defense gone awry, Brillo and Natad bombarded their opponents with a variation of power shots, cunning drop shots and crosscourt hits in 8-1 rally that practically sealed UV''s win, 20-14.

Tabio put up one last stand for SWU only to frustrate in the next play as Igot executed a perfect drop shot for the ill.

UV head coach Raffy Briones was speechless at first, but later on couldn''t hide his feeling of great joy.

"I''m so very happy. The credit goes to my players. They played with a lot heart and they never succumb to pressure," said Briones, who pocketed the P50,000 prize for the champion coach.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Gullases for their all-out support to the team as well as to the UV administration. Also, I''d like to extend my gratitude to MLSDF executive director Eddie Ybañez and Romy Dublin of Cebu Diesel Supply for their support in our Boracay trip. Lastly, to the parents and our fans who have been part of our success," added Briones.

This is the first time that UV won the women''s crown since it started joining the Nestea Beach Volley four years ago. The victory was even made sweeter as the UV belles lashed back at Southwestern, which beat them in the finals during the 2004 edition of the annual event.

The vanquished SWU bets of coach Thelma Datig were gracious in defeat. They got P75,000 for their runner-up finish.

"It''s just okay that we lost, at least the champion is still from Cebu," said Natad, a two-time member of the SWU champion team in 2004 and 2005.

In the battle for third place, Carren Disierto and Dolly Penaflorda of Holy Cross-Davao dispatched Adamson''s Hannah Suarez and Rissa Jane Laguilles, 21-13, 22-20, to grab P40,000. Adamson received the P20,000 fourth prize.

In the epic men''s battle, Gabshar Tahiluddin and Yusop Abdulkarim of Mindanao State University of Tawi-Tawi went through the wringer fore fending off a tough challenge by Joshua Alcarde and Jeremy Flloyd Pedregosa of Far Eastern University (FEU), 23-21, 15-21, 17-15.

MSU won the first set, 23-21, but FEU took the next set, 21-15, to forge a rubbermatch.

In the decider, FEU looked headed to an easy win after it posted a 10-3 advantage, but Abdulkarim played a one-man wrecking crew in a game-closing 14-5 run that enabled MSU Tawi-Tawi to complete a great escape.

In an all-Visayas duel for third place, Rolando Agus and Arnel Amadeo of Foundation University of Dumaguete bested James Ryan Rivera of Cebu''s University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 21-23, 21-15, 17-15.