Brillo, Gutierrez make final in Dapitan beach volley tilt

DAPITAN CITY – The tandem of Jusabelle Brillo and Florian Gutierrez is the only one left standing among the Cebuana entries in the 2008 Dapitan City Beach Volley Championships at the Dapitan Beach Front Hotel here.

Brillo and Gutierrez barged into the semifinals after topping Bracket A with an immaculate 4-0 win-loss record.

After two straight easy wins, the seemingly unbeatable Brillo- Gutierrez duo proceeded with a “no sweat” victory in their next game. They were supposed to take on the Heart Vit pair of Marites Natad and Erika Verano, but the latter decided to go back to Cebu after being stranded in Dumaguete City due to typhoon Frank.

Brillo and Gutierez, who both owned a crown in the prestigious Nestea Beach Volley, spared no mercy against the Jose Rizal Memorial State College belles, 21-13, to cap their elimination round campaign.

Brillo and Gutierrez will take on next the Angeles Law Office for a final berth. ALO finished second in Bracket B with a 3-1 win-loss card.

The other semifinal battle features University of St. La Salle-Bacolod Teams A and B going up against each other.

Meanwhile, crowd-darling Southwestern University (SWU) manned by Danika Gendrauli and Lorimae Layno bowed out of this Philippines Sports Commission (PSC)-suppported event through commissioner Eric Loretizo with a 2-2 win-loss mark.

SWU had a graceful exit though after escaping with a 22-20 victory over JRMSC-Katipunan campus. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol