2 Philippine pairs vie in Asiad beach volley

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will send not just one, but two pairs of women’s beach volley to next month’s Asian Games in Aichi, Japan.

It’s because a couple of 20-year-old Filipinas in Khy Progella and Sofia Pagara stunned the older, more experienced duo in Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, 21-18, 21-13, yesterday to snatch the FIVB Beach Pro Tour crown at the Central Gwangalli grounds in Busan, South Korea.

It was a magical performance for Progella and Pagara, who swept all their seven matches including this masterpiece over the Southeast Asian Games gold medalists.

Progella and Pagara edged Japanese Mayu Sawame and Wakana Akishige, 17-21, 21-13, 21-11, in the semis hours earlier, and beat another another Japan duo in Paurin Emiri Oto and Takemi Nishibori, 21-13, 21-12, in the quarters the day before.

Rondina and Pons, for their part, outlasted Americans Alyssa Keller and Tiffany Svenssohn, 23-21, 23-25, 15-11, in the quarters and Aussies Jana Milutinovic and Jasmine Rayner, 23-21, 21-19, in the semis before running into gutsy Progella-Pagara pair.

It was an enriching experience for the Nationals, who came to Busan knowing their best chance to land a medal in Aichi was the tandem of Rondina and Pons.

Now they have another pair to bank on. Progella and Pagara will also be in the chase in the Aichi Asiad.