CPU opens three-peat bid with win in Nestea Beach Volley

BORACAY – Central Philippines University's Jovelyn Gonzaga and Fiola Mae Ceballos made short work of La Salle-Dasmarinas' Iumi and Iari Yongco, 21-9, 21-9, to set in motion its three-peat feat bid at the start of the national finals of the 16th Nestea Beach Volley finals in this paradise island Thursday.

The tall, slender Gonzaga, a 21-year-old graduating education major seeking to join the Armed Forces after her studies, and Ceballos, an 18-year-old Tourism sophomore, totally dominated the comely Yongco sisters as the former punched their way through holes not just up front but also at the back.

"Beach volleyball is mostly 99-percent brains, it’s not all power," said Gonzaga, who won his first Nestea Beach title with a different partner two years ago before she teamed up with Ceballos to reign supreme in last year's competition.

But Gonzaga knows the road to a third straight title is no walk in the park as they face Southwestern U's Danika Yolanda Gendraulli and April Aguilar, who finished second and ahead of the former in the combined Visayas-Mindanao qualifier a month back in Moalboal, Cebu.

University of Mindanao-Tagum's Lourdilyn Catubag and Karen Kay Quilario, who wound up second to the CPU duel in last year's edition, topped the stage and is seen by Gonzaga as the other team to watch out for.

"SWU and UMT finished ahead of us in the regional eliminations and they're strong," said Gonzaga. "We didn't play well there but we're starting to find our rhythm and slowly regaining our old form."

La Salle-Taft's Jeushl Wensh Tiu and Kim Fajardo turned back a hard-fighting University of Southern Phl Foundation's Rochelle Rica and Apple Saraum, 21-14, 19-21, 15-5, to likewise boost their title stock.

Jose Maria College's Elvie Mariquit and Irsh Dignadice smashed Lyceum-Batangas' Amina Castillo and Jozza Cabalsa, 21-13, 21-11, to also enhance their bid in this event staking P100,000 to the national champion and the bragging rights as the best beach volley college team in the country.

In men's action, University of San Jose de Recoletos' Jade Illut and Jason Uy, last year's losing runner-up, also made their presence felt after the pair smothered Calayan Educational Foundation, Inc.'s Jeorge Cartney Pantoja and Jomari Joshua Herrera, 21-11, 21-9.

Illut and Uy are seeking no less than winning it this year after a failed try last year when the tandem got ambushed by eventual champions Jade Becaldo and Mike Abria, 16-21, 19-21, in the final match.

Interestingly, Becaldo and Abria have returned and qualified as far as here to defend the crown the two won a year back.

University of Mindanao-Tagum's Gilbuena Hachlaiah and Jefty Amora also opened their campaign with a bang after they waylaid Perpetual Help-Laguna's John Joven Javier and John Philip Nunez, 21-16, 21-18.

Same with USPF's Edmar Bonono and Edward Ybanez, who pulled the rug from under Arellano U's John Carlo Lozada and Jophius Christian Banang, 21-19, 21-19, and Holy Cross of Davao's Joel Villonson and Edmar Flores, who rallied to upset Adamson's John Hendrix Competente and Gilbert Longavela, 18-21, 21-19, 15-9.