FEU opens title repeat drive, trounces NCBA

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U outlasted National College of Business and Arts, 21-17, 21-16, yesterday and showed how hot it can get in the Luzon leg of the Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit.

Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan of FEU, only in their first week as beach volley partners, needed some time to get going against Salvador Timbal and Marvin Cortez of NCBA and the blazing sun.

But once the members of the FEU indoor volley team did, there was no stopping them from launching their bid for a third straight Luzon crown going at the SM Mall of Asia Bay Area.

Alcarde skipped last year’s tournament after carrying FEU to a runner-up finish in the national finals in Boracay in 2007. He said he’s happy with his 6-foot-1 teammate and expects to go a long way this year.

“Still, our game plan is to do it slowly but surely. We must be ready for every match, whoever the opponent is. We must improve each day,” said the 21-year-old Alcarde in Filipino.

Last year, it was Edjed Mabayad and Gerry Mabutol who led FEU to the Luzon title although they failed to land in the finals in Boracay finals won by Foundation U over University of Southern Philippines.

There are 12 men’s and 11 women’s teams vying in the three-day Luzon leg, and the top three in each division will reach the Boracay finals on May 6-9 along with those from the Visayas and Mindanao.

In other men’s matches on opening day, NCBA defeated UP, 22-20, 21-11, before losing to FEU; Lyceum B whipped La Salle Taft, 21-11, 21-13; La Salle Dasmariñas edged Adamson, 21-12, 21-15; Letran survived San Beda, 21-15, 21-15; and Lyceum won again at the expense of St. Benilde, 21-17, 22-20.

In the women’s division, early winners were UE over St. Louis University, 21-11, 21-11; Letran over La Salle Dasmariñas, 17-21, 21-17, 15-6; University of the Cordilleras over UP, 21-13, 21-12; and University of Baguio over San Beda Alabang, 21-17, 21-18.

This year’s sponsors are Ipanema, Speedo, Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu, L’Oreal Paris Elseve, Nautilus by PJ Arañador, Mikasa, D’Mall D’Boracay, Tagum Beach Volley Drome at Rotary Park, Hey! Jude Resort, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel and Crystal Sand Beach Resort.

The Mindanao leg is set March 26-28 at the Tagum Beach Volley Drome at Rotary Park, and the Visayas leg slated April 16-18 at Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu. – Abac Cordero