UM-Tagum gains Nestea finals

MANILA, Philippines - University of Mindanao-Tagum stamped its class and swept the men’s and women’s crowns in the Mindanao leg of the Nestea Beach Volleyball Collegiate Championship at the Paradise Park and Resort in Samal, Davao del Norte last Sunday.

Jefty Mora teamed up with Kim Lapiz as the UM-Tagum spikers crushed Roldan Medina and Imbran Idris of Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, 21-14, 21-19, while Mylene Que and Liezl Manatad fashioned out a 21-18, 21-19 victory over University of Mindanao-Davao’s May Shiel Agton and Reynilen Raterta to complete the UM-Tagum sweep.

Despite its loss, MSU-Tawi-Tawi, winner of the 2007 Nestea national crown, still made it to the Boracay national finals slated April 19-21 along with the tandem of Joel Villonson and Edmar Flores of Holy Cross of Davao College, which defeated DMMA College of Southern Philippines, 21-14, 21-14, in their duel for third place.

Also gaining a Boracay trip in the distaff side were Elvie Mariquit and Irish Dignadice of Jose Maria College of Davao City, who dominated their rivals from Cor Jesu College of Digos City, 21-11, 21-15.

The top three teams from among the 12 squads in the men’s and 11 in the women’s sides advanced to the national championship which stakes P100,000 to the champion in both divisions. The runner-up will get P65,000 while the third and fourth placers will receive P35,000 and P22,500, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Visayas elims will be held March 9-11 in Moalboal town of Cebu, while the Luzon leg will be played March 21-23. The Metro Manila elims is set March 25-27.  

UM-Tagum coach Adrian Benett, meanwhile, has downplayed their chances in the national finals, saying their target is to surpass their fourth place finish in 2007 although he remains hopeful of Lapiz, 18, and Mora, 20, who have been playing together the last two years.

“Modesty aside our target is only to surpass our fourth place finish in 2007. That’s my only wish now. Teams from the Visayas, like Foundation University in Dumaguete and Cebu’s University of the Visayas, University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of Southern Philippines Foundation and Manila’s University of Perpetual Help System Dalta are the top bets. But of course we will play our best,” said Benett, who steered UM-Tagum to back-to-back title romps in the National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) volleyball tournament.