MSU spikers trip UP, gain beach volley semis

BORACAY–Mindanao State University’s Gabshar Tahiluddin and Yusop Abdulkarim want more than just this trip to Boracay.

After losing twice and ranking ninth among a dozen teams Friday, the MSU tandem rose to the occasion yesterday, pulling off a shocking 21-17 victory over top-ranked University of the Philippines and moving on to the semis of the Nestea Beach Volley 2004 men’s division here.

Being the underdogs, Tahiluddin and Abdulkarim were egged on by the huge crowd that braved the prickling summer heat to watch the action. And they were not disappointed when the MSU spikers came out the winner over their fancied rivals.

"We knew that UP is one of the toughest teams this year. So we just played to the best of our ability," said Tahiluddin who’s in his third trip to Boracay. He was with the MSU team that placed fifth here last year.

"And now that we’re in the semis, we might as well try and win the title," he added.

The Hubalde brothers of UP, Jerrico and Jarod, struggled on Boracay’s white sand, and never knew what hit them as their opponents rejoiced over the victory.

Winning the crown, however, is so much easier said than done for MSU.

Up next for Mindanao entry in the semis this morning is No. 4 La Salle, which worked so hard to beat No. 12 University of Mindanao Tagum, 21-18. The other semis matchup pits No. 2 Foundation University over No. 6 University of San Jose Recoletos.

Foundation U, a semifinalist last year, disposed of No. 7 Iloilo Doctor’s College, 21-11, while USJR, the 2002 champion from Cebu, tripped No. 6 University of Negros Occidental Recoletos, 21-15.

In the women’s division, making it to the semis are No. 1 Adamson, defending champion and No. 2 Southwestern U, No. 3 UNO-R and No. 5 University of the Visayas. It will be UV against Adamson and Southwestern against UNO-R.

Adamson defeated No. 8 San Agustin in extra period, 23-21; Southwestern U downed No. 7 University of Baguio, 21-14; UNO-R stopped No. 11 University of Mindanao Tagum; and UV scraped past No. 4 Letran, 21-19.

The event sponsored by Mikasa, Speedo, Smart, Coppertone, Cebu Pacific, Power Plant Mall, Ayala Center, TGI Friday’s and Le Soleil de Boracay will give away P100,000 to the men’s and women’s champions plus P50,000 worth of sports equipment to the schools they represent.

The semis and the finals, to be played this afternoon, will be a best-of-three, race-to-21 affair. A third set, if needed, will be a race-to-15.

Notes: This island paradise off the province of Kalibo was bursting with activity other night with thousands of tourists, both foreign and local, packing the discos, clubs and different beer joints lining up the 7 km beachfront. They partied like there’s no tomorrow with some spots still jumping until 4 a.m. Celebrities spotted here include Sports Unlimited hosts Dyan Castillejo and Marc Nelson, actors Keempee de Leon and Wendell Ramos, screen sirens Aya Medel and Maui Taylor, and singer Martin Nievera walking around with radio star Cutie del Mar. In the day, people flock to the beach to worship the sun, enjoy the clear water and get a good tan — men in their colorful, fashionable surf shorts, and women in their skimpy, head-turning bikinis. For many, Boracay truly is the place to be seen.