UE bets rule Petron Beach Volleyball first leg

MANILA, Philippines –  Newcomers from the University of the East in Krycel Cueva and Francislyn Cais emerged as unlikely champions in the first leg of the 2011 Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball Tournament.

They used their familiarity with their home court on the University of the East-Caloocan campus to frustrate Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas aspirants Alyanna Marie Gorospe and Ana Alicia Adolfo, 22-20, 21-15, in their best-of-three finals showdown.

The 17-year-old Cueva, who paired up with Cais for the first time after she placed fifth in a collegiate spikefest in August last year, reached the finals after they outplayed Emilio Aguinaldo College-Manila bets Donna Factor and Anelyn Arroyo in the semifinals of this tournament backed by Petron, Mikasa and Speedo.

Gorospe and Adolfo found themselves in the finals again after they eased out National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) champion Jessa Aranda and new Rizal Technological University partner Katherine Jimena, 21-18.

Aside from the first-leg crown, Cueva and Cais also earned a slot in the Battle of Champions this October in Puerto Princesa City.

Cueva and Cais charged back from a 3-9 deficit with their placement shots to the front of the net. They kept the assault and played Adolfo and Gorospe to two deadlocks, with the last one at 15-all.

Leaning on their power serves in the ensuing plays, Cueva and Cais kept their rivals pinned down at the backline, allowing them to score the game’s last six points.

“Difficult. They returned the ball well but we just kept our composure,” said Cueva. 

In the first set, Cueva and Cais were trailing, 15-19, when a winning opportunity came their way after Adolfo slammed the ball out of bounds.

A service winner and a crosscourt volley from the net by Cais, a marketing management freshman, enabled the pair from UE to come close by a point at 18-19.

They managed to fight their way to two deadlocks, the last at 20-all, before Cueva and Cais took the last two points on Adolfo’s net error and Cais’ service winner.