CEBU, Philippines - It was a sweet redemption of sort for both Southwestern University and the University of the Visayas (UV) as they reigned supreme in the 2013 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) beach volley tournament at the SWU sandcourt yesterday.
SWU's Therese Rae Ramas and Floremel Rodriguez are only greenhorns but fought like veterans in dethroning the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) manned by Rochelle Rica, Gelly Murpos, and Jaquelene Tadatada, 21-13, 21-17, to emerge as new champions in the women's division.
Their male counterparts, however, only settled for fourth place after bowing to the University of San Jose-Recoletos, 21-18, 21-16.
In the main game, the power duo of Mike Abria and Mark Anthony Fernandez of UV slammed Edmar Bonono, John Ylanan and Tormis in a three-set thriller, 17-21, 21-19, 15-13 to snare the men's crown.
It was a sorry loss for USPF as it beat UV during their first meeting to come out as elimination round topnotcher.
USPF even stole the first set, but Abria and Fernandez put up a gallant stand in the second frame to forge a rubbermatch.
In the decider, the two protagonists figured in a closely-fought battle resulting into a 6-all deadlock.
The Visayanians, however, proved the hungrier and more determined squad when it mattered most on the way to regain their throne after failing in their grandslam bid last season.