Japan duo bags FIVB beach volley diadem

MANILA, Philippines — Japan’s Takemi Nishibori and Ayumi Kusano stamped their class on Spain’s Paula Soria and Maria Belen Carro, 21-14, 21-18, to capture the women’s title in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Manila Open at SM Sands by the Bay yesterday.

The Japanese outsmarted the Spaniards with  short service tactics and heady cut shots to seize cushions of 14-9 in the first set and 18-13 in the second and set the tone for their unbeaten championship run in the 1-Star tourney being hosted by the Philippines for the first time.

Nishibori and Kusano, who earlier defeated compatriots Shinako Tanaka and Sakurako Fujii in the semis, 21-13, 21-16, earned 200 ranking points and $1,000 for this feat.

Soria and Carro, who advanced to the gold medal match by beating Paraguay’s Michelle Amarilla and Erika Bobadilla, 21-16, 21-15, settled for 180 points and the runner-up prize of $700.

The Paraguayans took the bronze with a 21-17, 21-16 drubbing of Tanaka and Fujii.

Meanwhile, Sisi Rondina and Dzi Gervacio of host Philippines hope their quarterfinal stint will give beach volleyball a big boost in the country. The duo netted 120 points for reaching the Last-8.

“Sana ito na ang maging reason (We hope this will be the catalyst) for Phl to have a good, long-term program for beach volleyball,”said Gervacio, whose team pulled off upsets over taller American and Canadian rivals to get a crack at the semis.

“Nakita naman natin (We saw that even) with just two weeks of practice, ngayon ko lang nakapartner si Sisi (and being first time partners), we’ve managed to play until the quarterfinals and sana ito na ang heads up to everyone, let’s start a beach volleyball program; kaya naman nating manalo, we won against USA and Canada and I think that’s a tournament for a young team,” said Gervacio.

Lot Catubag and Karen Quilario of Tagum also achieved gains as they went as far as the Round of 12 and picked up 100 ranking points.