Perpetual, San Beda post wins in NCAA beach volley

PUERTO GALERA – Defending back-to-back champion University of Perpetual Help and San Beda College drew first blood in the opening day of the 89th season of NCAA women’s beach volleyball tournament here Wednesday.

The three-peat-gunning Lady Altas needed only 20 minutes to dispose the hapless Mapua Institute of Technology in straight sets, 21-17, 21-12, behind the duo of Vhima Condada and Jamela Suyat.

Condada admitted that pressure played a role in their first game as they needed to stretch the dominance of her seniors Norie Jane Diaz and April Sartin, who opted to skip the event to focus on their academics.

“Na-pressure kami kasi kami ang back-to-back champion,” said the short-haired Condada, who plays libero in indoor games. “Kailangan naming ma-defend yung title."

But there was not a pinch of pressure to Condada and Suyat as they played like a well-oiled machine and opened the second set with a commanding 10-1 lead.

Meanwhile, the Lady Red Spikers climbed from a set behind and capitalized in the remaining sets to drub the gritty Colegio de San Juan de Letran in a thrilling three-setter, 19-21, 21-19, 15-8.

Veteran Mona Diolazo carried the load on her shoulders as she nailed back-to-back aces in their 4-0 run, 16-12, to separate themselves and even the match, 1-1.

The Legarda-based spikers found their rhythm and carried the momentum in the final set en route to their first win of the tournament.

But Diolazo and her partner Debbie Dultra believed that they could easily end the match in two sets against Lady Knights’ Kathleen Barrinueva and Jan Carreon.

“Masaya pero hindi satisfied sa nilaro,” the Marketing and Corporate Communications student disclosed as they lost their seven-point lead in the opening set, 12-5.

In the men’s division, reigning MVP Jay R. Dela Cruz and his new partner Rey Taneo thumped the duo of Rey Andaya and Philip Bagalay, 21-18, 21-19, while Wyndle Bagang and Rudy Gatdula of Letran walloped Peter Enanod and Joshua Manzanas of Jose Rizal University, 16-21, 22-20, 15-5.

San Sebastian College and Arellano University also joined the winner’s column in the women’s side after defeating JRU Lady Bombers, 21-7, 21-10, and Lyceum of the Philippines University, 21-16, 21-15.