USJR, AdU advance in Nestea beach volley

BORACAY, Philippines – University of San Jose-Recoletos and Adamson University essayed a pair of contrasting wins to barge into the semifinal round after sorry misses last year as action picked up in the Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit here yesterday.

Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos of USJR bucked the strong winds and the challenge of Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan of Far Eastern U, completing a straight-set 21-17, 21-16 victory and reaching the semis of this 13th staging of the annual tournament among the country’s top beach volley teams.

The perennial Cebu champions, who wound up fifth last year, actually bounced back from the losers’ bracket to remain in the hunt for the top P100,000 purse.

Angela Benting and Lizlee Ann Gata of Adamson, meanwhile, battled back from a set down to repulse Krystle Marie Suizo and Jackielyn Estoquia of University of San Agustin of Iloilo, 16-21, 21-18, 15-13, for their second straight win and a spot in the semis.

“We lost a three-setter to La Salle-Bacolod last year. Had we won that game, we would have been in the semifinals,” said Carumba, a fourth year business management student, in Filipino.

The 22-year-old Tipgos, a business administration junior, said they learned a lot from last year’s debacle.

“It taught us to work hard, play as a team and give it everything,” said Tipgos.

USJR lost to regional rival University of Visayas, 19-21, 21-23, 15-17, in last Thursday’s rain-hit double-loss elimination round but will try to get back at the Jade Becaldo-Precioso Bendijo Jr. pair in the semis.

The UV tandem breezed through with a 21-13, 21-19 win over Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan of Far Eastern U.

The Lady Falcons, winners of the Luzon qualifier but who placed sixth here last year, opened their bid with a 21-19, 21-12 demolition of Mykah Ramos and Aiza Armacion of Holy Cross of Davao College Thursday but had to work doubly hard to get past Suizo and Estoquia.

“We’re out to win the championship and bring it back to Luzon,” said Adamson mentor Dulce Pante, referring to the San Marcelino-based school’s victory in 2002 and St. Benilde’s title romp in 2005.

The tournament is sponsored by 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.

Defending men’s champion Buensuceso Sayson and Arnel Amadeo of Foundation University of Dumaguete City beat Mohammad Reza Asakil and Halim Khan of Mindanao State U-Tawi-Tawi, 21-16, 29-25, to likewise advance to the next round.

Sayson and Amadeo will try to make it two in a row against Asakil and Khan, who stayed alive by eliminating Eden Canlas and Erickson Joseph Ramos of Letran in a marathon 21-17, 17-21, 21-16 win.

“We saw how they beat us, we know their game. Hopefully we could beat them in our rematch,” said MSU-Tawi-Tawi coach Edward Lee.

Julie Anne Billote and Ruby Rose Bordon of University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, the Visayan Leg titlist, also marched into the semis by overcoming Erika Camille Verano and Apple Saraum of University of Southern Philippins Foundation, 14-21, 21-12, 15-8.