UM-Tagum, Arellano pull off 3-setters

BORACAY, Philippines  – Regional champions University of Mindanao-Tagum and Arellano U scrambled with a pair of three-set victories to barge into the quarterfinals of the 15th Nestea Beach Volley National Finals in this paradise island in Aklan here yesterday.

UMT’s Daryl Kim Lapiz and Jefty Amora, who topped the Mindanao leg in Davao, fended off the fierce challenge by University of San Jose-Recoletos’ Jade Illut and Jason Uy and pounded out a 13-21, 21-16, 15-11 victory in scorching heat but windy condition.

AU’s John Carlo Lozada and Chris Salvador, the Manila regional winners in Batangas, likewise came back from a set down to overcome the power-hitting tandem of University of Visayas’ Jade Becaldo and Mike Abria, 17-21, 22-20, 15-11.

The Tagum-based spikers dispute the semis berth with Holy Cross of Davao College’s Joel Villonson Jr. and Edmar Flores while the Chiefs tackle Far Eastern U’s Arvin Avila and Karl Ian dela Calzada in the other quarterfinal clash in the event sponsored by Nestea and sanctioned by Philippine Volleyball Federation and complies with the standard of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

Both third placers in the regionals, HCDC’s Villonson and Flores stunned Visayan leg champion University of St. La Salle-Bacolod City’s Roelene Inaudito and Kerwin Reje, 15-21, 22-20, 16-14, while FEU’s Avila and Dela Calzada turned back Luzon Leg titlist La Salle-Dasmariñas’ Alnakran Abdila and Joel Villanueva, 21-7, 21-11.

“We kept telling ourselves not to give up even though we lost the first set, that helped us a lot,” said the 20-year-old Amora, a recent Criminology graduate in Filipino.

“It has been our attitude to be persevering and resilient so we remained calm after we dropped the first set,” said the 22-year-old Lozada, a fourth year Hotel and Restaurant Management student.

“It’s going to be an interesting re-match because they beat us in the elimination and we got back to them in the semis,” said the 22-year-old Salvador, also a HRM student. 

“That win helped us make it to the finals and eventually win the leg,” he added.

In women’s action, Southwestern U’s Danica Yolanda Gendrauli and Lorie Mae Layno downed Jose Maria College of Davao’s Elvie Mariquit and Irish Dignadice, 21-19, 21-16, to remain in the hunt for a fifth championship offering a top purse of P100,000.

Sheryl June Denila and Patty Jane Orendain of University of St. La Salle-Bacolod also fashioned out a 21-9, 21-18 win over May Shiel Agton and Reynelen Raterta of University of Mindanao-Davao.

The Big City bets also advanced as Adamson’s Angela Benting and Ma. Paulina Soriano trounced Perpetual Help of Binan’s Jessica Curato and Rachellie Villanueva, 21-14, 21-10, and La Salle-Taft’s Jeushl Wensh Tiu and Kim Fajardo routed University of Luzon-Dagupan’s Melanie Carrera and Cassandra Lleda, 21-4, 21-8.