Visayas teams book semis spots in beach volley league

05/08/2009 | 09:12 PM


MANILA, Philippines – The 13th Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball is shaping up to be an all-Visayan show.

On Friday, all Visayas men and women teams booked semifinal berths with defending champion Mindanao State University-Tawi Tawi and Adamson University of Luzon as the possible spoilers in the both divisions in the tournament being held in Boracay.

MSU-T was actually on the verge of being eliminated after absorbing a 21-16, 27-21 against defending champion Foundation University, which booked the first semis berth.

But after that defeat from the Foundation pair of Buensuceso Sayson and Arenel Amadeo, the MSU-T duo of Mohammad Reza Asakil and Halim Khan earned themselves the last semis spot by eliminating Luzon's Letran in three sets, 21-17, 17-21, 15-12.

“Dapat nga panalo pa kami laban sa Foundation, but we were not able to use our weapons effectively," said MSU-T coach Edward Lee. "Mohammad was not able to execute his jump serves and yong mga spikes namin hindi rin masyadong nagamit."

Lee is hoping that during their rematch with Foundation in Saturday's semifinals, they will be able not only avenge their defeat but also book a finals berth. "I believe that we can win against Foundation. Basta gumana lang ang aming mga sandata."

University of Visayas and University of San Jose-Recoletos, the two other Visayan teams in the tournament, will dispute the other finals spot, ensuring the region of at least one team vying for the title.

UV's Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo Jr. defeated the Far Eastern University duo of Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan in one of the morning matches, putting the Tamaraws’ chances of entering the semifinals in jeopardy.

The Tamaraws were eventually eliminated when they absorbed their second defeat from another Visayan team, this time from USJR’s Ariel Carumba and Louijei Tipgos, who penciled a 21-17, 21-16 triumph in the afternoon match.

Luzon elimination round runner-up Letran finished fifth followed by FEU, University of Mindanao-Davao, Mahardika Institute of Technology and San Beda College.

In the women’s side, Visayas leg top three finishers University of Negros-Recoletos (UNO-R), University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and University of San Agustin (USA) all made it to the Final Four.

The UNO-R duo of Julie Ann Billote and Ruby Rose Bordon made it to the semifinals after defeating USPF's Erika Camille Verano and Apple Saraum. But USPF, likewise, forced a rematch against their tormentor when it demolished University of the Cordilleras, 21-13, 21-14 in their battle for the last semis spot.

Adamson, the 2002 champion in the tournament, reached the final four after surviving USA, 16-21, 21-18, 15, 13. The Lady Falcons Angela Benting and Lizle Ann Gata will try to spoil an all-Visayan final when they again face USA, which earned a rematch following a win against the FEU team of Anna Camille Abanto and Marigail Tolentino.

University of the Cordilleras eventually finished fifth followed by FEU, University of Mindanao-Tagum, Holy Cross of Davao College and University of Mindanao-Davao. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV