The pair of Kent Bulabon and Ray Catipay was forced to work doubly hard against their taller opponents, Ray Yoldi and Arnold Laniog, and the scorching summer heat just to keep their hopes alive in the exciting summer event, which comes to a close with today’s finals.
Bulabon and Catipay arrived in this tropical paradise Thursday, a day ahead of the rest of the 16 teams, including eight in the women’s division, and spent their extra day practicing with tournament umpires who are former members of the RP men’s volleyball team.
"Nahirapan pa din kami sa St. Benilde. Matatangkad kasi at magaling mag-block," said Catipay, a 5-foot-8 lefty who can easily outjump his taller opponents. He is a first-timer in the Nestea event but is already quite a big hit among the fans.
It was the eighth win in as many matches for Foundation University in this year’s edition after going 3-0 in the elimination and winning four more matches in the quarterfinals leading to the Boracay stage.
"Pero hindi ka puwede mag-siguro dahil lahat ng walong teams dito magagaling," said coach Dwight Sun, who also led Foundation to the 2001 title and a runner-up finish last year.
Also making it to the semis of the men’s division were defending champion San Jose Recoletos of Cebu, which tripped Negros Occ. Recoletos, 21-11, 21-6, and reigning NCAA titlist San Sebastian, which survived UP Diliman, 21-17, 21-17.
Central Colleges of the Philippines took the last semis berth by beating Mindanao State University, 15-13, in the race-to-15 battle in the deciding set. Both teams split the first two sets with MSU taking the first, 22-20, and CCP battling back, 21-10.
The semifinalists will see action this morning with the finals set later in the afternoon.
The event sponsored by Le Soleil de Boracay, Smart, Speedo, Great Eastern Hotel, Mikasa, PAL, Astring-O-Sol, WG&A, Power Plant Mall and Friday’s offers P100,000 to the men’s and women’s champions plus P50,000 worth of sports equipment for their respective schools.
In the women’s side, making it to the semis were Southwestern University, which clobbered San Jose Recoletos, 21-13, 21-8, and University of San Carlos, which ended University of Baguio‚s great run in the tournament, 21-8, 21-12.