Bad luck: Two RP volley teams in same group

BACOLOD — Talk of luck of the draw, the two tandems of the Philippines in the SEA Games men’s beach volleyball found themselves in the same bracket and may even figure in a knockout duel on the final day of the classification round on Dec. 2 here.

The RP duos of Rhovyl Verayo-Parley Tupaz and Chad Mowrey-Justin Schonnor have been bracketed with Malaysia, Cambodia and the Thailand team 2 in Group B with Indonesia 1 and 2, Thai 1 and Vietnam making up Group A in the tourney slated at La Salle-Bacolod grounds.

Only one team after classification round will be eliminated. The remaining eight teams then figure in the knockout round all the way to the gold-medal game on Dec. 4.

In women’s play, one of the RP tandems has been grouped with Thai 1, Thai 2 and Indon 1 in Group A and the other with Vietnam, Indon 2 and Malaysia 1 and 2 in Group B.

Also with a nine-team field, one team will be out after the three-day classifications starting Nov. 30. The rest will advance to the knockout settos.

RP volleyball officials are looking for a sweep of the men’s and women’s beach volley gold medals, pinning their hopes on their Fil-Am recruits who are veteran campaigners in the AVP pro tour.

The Philippines’ Fil-Am recruits are Mowrey and Schonnor in the men’s side and Diane Pascua and Heidi Illustre in the women’s side.

Homegrown bets carrying the RP flag in women’s play are Cecille Tabuena and Michelle Laborte.

Mowrey and Illustre are already in town. Schonnor and Pascua are set to arrive today.

In indoor volley at the West Negros College gym, the Philippine men’s team opens its campaign against Timor Leste tomorrow while the ladies squad starts its quest against Myanmar on Monday.

It’s going to be a one-round-robin affair for both divisions with the top two teams disputing the title on Dec. 5.