Foundation confident of retaining Nestea Beach Volley plum

Foundation confident of retaining Nestea Beach Volley plum
PERRY LEGASPI, GMANews.TV
05/06/2009 | 03:49 PM


MANILA, Philippines - Foundation University coach Dwight Esenio Sun is optimistic his wards have a good shot of defending their men's title in the 2009 Nestea Fit Beach Volley national finals which begins Thursday in Boracay.

Foundation will be represented by veteran Arnel Amadeo and a new partner, Buensuceso Sayson this year.

However, Sun believes the duo will perfectly complement each others’ game since Sayson plays much like Rolando Agos, Amadeo’s partner in winning Foundation's second title last year over University of Southern Philippines Foundation.

"Sayson's game is like that of Agos. Because of this I believe that I still have a title contender," said Sun. "Sayson learns fast and adjusts fast too."

Amadeo and Sayson showed that they have are a force to reckon with in the national championship when they topped the Visayas leg last April 18 and in the process earn a first-day bye together with Luzon winner Far Eastern University and Mindanao champion Mindanao State University-Tawi Tawi.

Also vying for the national title are Luzon's FEU, the 1999 titlist, Letran; two-time national winner University of San Jose Recoletos, the current Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) crown holder, and 2007 champion MSU-Tawi Tawi.

Letran is represented by two of its top players - Joseph Erickson Ramos and Eden Canlas - who are pivotal in giving the school the NCAA title. FEU will have Jan Berlin Panglinawan and Joshua Alcarde as representatives.

The other semifinalists are San Beda College (Luzon); University of Visayas (Visayas); and University of Mindanao-Davao and Holy Cross of Davao College (Mindanao).

If Foundation is eyeing a second consecutive and third overall title, expect a new champion in the women's division when the tournament is over.

2008 champion Southwestern University was eliminated in the Visayas leg, opening the doors for Adamson and FEU to possibly bring home this season's crown.

Angela Benting and Lizle Ann Gata suit up for Adamson while Anna Camille Abanto and Marigail Tolentino of FEU are all playing in their third consecutive national finals here.

Abando and Tolentino are also here to prove that their UAAP title last year was no fluke.

Benting and Laguilles are teaming up for the first time this year and are looking at duplicating Adamson's title win in 2002.

But the road to the title will definitely be tough for FEU and Adamson.

Out to challenge them are Luzon qualifier University of the Cordilleras, Visayas semifinalists University of Negros Occidental Recoleots, University of Southern Philippines Foundation and University of San Agustin and Mindanao's UM-Davao, UM-Tagum and Holy Cross of Davao College.

At stake in the national finals is the P100,000 top prize. The runners-up will bag P65,000 and the third placers P35,000. -GMANews.TV