SWU, UMT hack out wins in Nestea Beach Volley

BORACAY – Southwestern University continued its winning ways while UAAP champ Adamson survived the challenge of University of Mindanao Tagum as the two unbeaten women’s squads took the first semifinal seats in the Nestea Beach Volley 2014 here.

SWU bets Floremel Rodriguez and Therese Rae Ramas repulsed fellow Visayas entries Katya Grabato and Patty Jane Orendain of University of St. La Salle, 21-15, 21-11, to rack up their third consecutive win and a place in the Last 4.

Adamson’s Shiela Pineda and Amanda Villanueva followed suit and clinched their semis seat at the expense of their third victims, UMT’s Danna Angela Quisado and Mary Cris Asena, 21-18, 25-23.

Defending champion University of the Visayas led the semifinal advance of two Cebuano teams over in the men’s division after going 2-0 Friday.

UV’s Jade Becaldo and Mark Fernandez fended off their familiar rivals from Cebu, SWU’s Romel Pepito and Relan Taneo in a thrilling three-setter, 19-21, 21-19, 15-12, to go through to the next stage.

They were joined by University of Southern Philippines Foundation’s Edward Yanez and Edmar Bono, who extracted their second straight triumph from Mindanao State U’s  Aga Tahiluddin and Nur-amin Madsairi, 21-15, 21-14.

MSU and SWU slipped to 2-1.

The SWU lady spikers, who started the tourney with straight-set wins over Perpetual Laguna and holders Central Philippines U on opening day, overhauled an 8-13 deficit in the first set against USLS (2-1) and never relinquished control en route to grabbing a semis seat.

“I’m always motivating them never to give up, and go for it no matter what,” said SWU coach Lemuel Arreza in Filipino. “It also helped that they’re following instructions as who they should target.”

The Adu Lady Falcons, for their part, followed up their 21-6, 21-9 demolition of Mindanao State U Tawi Tawi and 23-25, 21-16, 16-14 escape act over UAAP rival De La Salle with a hard-earned W over UMT (2-1).

Adamson played catchup against UMT early on but patiently worked their way back with Villanueva’s hit and ace and UMT’s mishit eventually sealing the set win for the San Marcelino-based spikers.

The Lady Falcons seized a 20-16 lead in the second but couldn’t finish the hard-fighting Mindanaoans off right away.

They were locked in a 23-23 standoff after a service error by Pineda but the captain redeemed herself by punching it in the next play to get on the hill before Asena sent it out for a free match-clinching point for AdU.

UV and USPF maintained their lofty position as the only undefeated squads in the men’s competitions.

UMT’s Hachaliah Gilbuena and Jhonrel Amora closed in on a semis as they improved to 3-1 following a 22-20, 21-12 disposal of Nationa U’s Joseph Henry Tipay and Edwin Tolentino. The UAAP champ Bulldogs bowed out with a 1-2 card.