USPF and UV reach semis

CEBU, Philippines - The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) belles and the University of the Visayas (UV) kept their unbeaten records intact to breeze through the semifinal round in their respective divisions in the Nestea Beach Volley Season 13 Visayas eliminations yesterday at the Piazza Area of Parkmall in north reclamation area.

USPF’s Erika Camille Verano and Apple Saraum thumped Roslyn Dusaran and Princess Ann Pido of Iloilo Doctors’ College in straight sets, 21-11, 21-19, to emerge as the elimination round topnotcher in the women’s division.

Defending champion Southwestern University (SWU) manned by Yolanda Gendrauli and Lorie May Layno kept their semis hopes alive by clobbering Jerymie Montalvo and Chona Gesulga of the University of San Carlos (USC), 22-20, 21-15.

The University of the San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) of Cebu Sports Hall of Famer coach Grace Antigua, however, faces an uphill climb as Genie Saba and Mary Joy Bonita bowed to Julie Anne Billote and Ruby Rose Bordon of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) in three sets, 21-19, 14-21, 15-11.

USJ-R, thus, finds itself in a must-win situation against SWU of coach Joerem Yu this morning to march into the penultimate round.

The University of the Visayas (UV) duo of Ivy Mae Abella and Noreina Castro, on the other hand, crashed out of the tournament after falling prey to University of San Agustin’s Jackelyn Estoquia and Krystle Marie Suizo, 10-21, 20-22.

In the men’s bracket, Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo of the Raffy Briones-mentored UV made it sure that they will get a semifinal seat after bagging a clean 3-0 slate in the elimination round.

UV trounced the equally-tough IDC pair of Jason Labuyo and Belson Ocampo in a two-set thriller 21-18, 22-20 and then whipped Edward Ybanez and Marlon Luces of the USPF in straight sets, 21-18, 21-18.

It was not yet the end for USPF though as they kept their semifinal hopes after finishing day two with two wins.

The Spiking Panthers had to pass through a three-set thriller against the “twin towers” of the University of St. La Salle (USLS) – Bacolod, Mark Sabusap and Andro Billena, 24-22, 18-21, 18-16. Prior to that, they routed Joemar Hernandez and Jan Mhar Basinang of Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion (CPC), 21-15, 21-13.

Also barging into the semis are the men’s defending national champion Foundation University (FU) of Arnel Amadeo and Buensuceso Sayson, who beat the University of San Carlos (USC) of Roderick Arenasa and Bon Vincent Estrera, 21-12, 21-14.

USC needs to win over USJ-R in their 8 am clash today to book a semis ticket. USJ-R’s Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos stayed alive after fending off Western Leyte College (WLC) of Lorezo Marie Obejas and Leonever Cotejo, 21-5, 21-8 and UNO-R of John Paul Geollegue and Mark Hojilla, 21-16, 21-14.

Right after the remaining elimination matches this morning, the semifinals will follow. The championship will be contested right after the celebrity games. (THE FREEMAN)