USJR, FU make semifinals

By Charles Raymond A. Maxey

BORACAY -- The University of San Jose-Recoletos pair of Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos stunned the Far Eastern University tandem of Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan in straight sets, 21-17, 21-16, to barge into the semi-finals of the 13th Nestea Beach Volley National Circuit 2009 Finals here Friday.

Carumba and Tipgos played cohesive ball all throughout in beating their FEU counterparts and their victory earned them a shot at the men's finals against Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo Jr. of the University of Visayas.

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Incidentally, both Becaldo and Bendijo Jr. are roommates of Carumba and Tipgos at the La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel where players competing in the tournament and members of the press are being billeted.

"They are our roommates, but this is going to be war tomorrow (Saturday). We will play our best to beat them," Carumba said in the vernacular.

"We will work hard to advance to the finals and hopefully claim the championship," added the 20-year-old Carumba, a third year student taking up Business Management.

They are indeed up against a formidable opponent in Becaldo and Bendijo, who earlier beat them in the elimination Thursday in straight sets.

The UV pair advanced to the semifinals after defeating Alcarde and Paglinawan earlier in the day also in straight sets, 21-18, 21-19.

Defending champion Foundation University likewise moved in the final four.

Represented by Arnel Amadeo and Buensuceso Sayson here, FU toppled Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi's Mohammad Reza Asakil and Halim Khan, 21-16, 25-27.

The University of Mindana-Davao pair of Paul John Saraga and Galileo Mascardo absorbed another defeat, this time at the hands of Colegio de San Juan de Letran's Eden Canlas and Erickson Joseph Ramos to bow out of contention.

Mykah Ramos and Aiza Armacion of the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) dropped their match against Anna Camille Abanto and Marigail Tolentino of Far Eastern University, 9-21, 18-21, to also kissed the championship goodbye.

The Nestea Fit Beach Volley 2009 Circuit is sponsored by Ipanema, Mikasa, Speedo, Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu, La'Oreal Paris Elseve, Nautilus by PJ Aranador, D'Mall D'Boracay, Tagum Beach Volleydrome a Century Park, Hey! Jude Resort and La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel.

Limpag: Stiff neck and cramps in Boracay

Mike T. Limpag
Fair Play

BORACAY - It was a dark and stormy night.

The wind blew like there was no tomorrow, while the rain dropped by the bucket, for hours.


Welcome to Boracay, the climate change era.

Like Cebu, Boracay is experiencing “weather on steroids.” In the first two days, it was sunny and windy, and after you blinked, it got dark and was raining.

Short of doing the sun dance, organizers of the Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball National Finals can do nothing about this weird weather, but to, well, weather it out.

Fortunately, the weather god must have been sated the other night since it got sunny yesterday—at least until the time I
wrote this—though dark clouds are just over the horizon.

The wind, though, is making its presence felt. And if you’d go kite surfing, or parasailing, I think you might end up somewhere in New York or Mars.

For the beach volleyball player, it’s a curse. A strong wind makes the ball’s trajectory go haywire. A sideline winner goes out, while an easy reception becomes a winner.

Coach Raffy Briones of the University of the Visayas said his team prepared hard for weeks for the national finals, but adjusting to the wind has been a bitch.

As for me, I love the wind.

You may get sand in your eyes, but a strong wind opens a lot of opportunities, to put it mildly.

But whether the weather is weird or not, Boracay is as good as advertised.

I think my neck muscles haven’t had a workout like this in years. Though, I’m sure that if the weather wasn’t this bad, there would be a lot of sun worshipers exposing their body to the sun and I have yet to catch my first bikini-challenged Amon Ra worshipper.

I’m writing this in front of the Nestea sand court at Station 2, and there’s a pathway between me and the court. Because of that, I’m having trouble finishing this column.

It seems a visually distracting member of the opposite sex walks by every 45 seconds. Oops, there goes another one, and another one, and another one…

I guess, it’s a blessing Boracay isn’t under Cebu Province.

I’m here to cover the beach volleyball game, and going to the venue, you sort of cover beach volleyball, your eyes won’t stay in one direction. It’s a good 10- to 15-minute walk to the sand court, but you won’t feel the distance, even if you walk alone.

I never expected though, that Boracay will make you feel fat.

For years, I’ve been quite comfortable with my one-pack. Here, it seems the rule is if you have a six-pack, you walk around without a shirt on and you have to wear your shorts really low to expose the V formed by your abdominal muscles.

If you have a litro pack like the rest of the population, you keep your shirt on. Unless you want to spoil somebody’s lunch.
Something funny also happened to me the other day.

Boracay is one giant beach front and you walk all day. And in my second day here, my legs were starting to cramp from all the walking. Seriously. My slippers are a couple of sizes too big and my toes sort of tighten with every step.

I was looking for an ATM machine the other day when it happened. I had to stand still for a few minutes then walk slowly since it would have been pretty embarrassing to say you suffered cramps, from walking.

Maybe I should start exercising again. Reporters and editors of Sun.Star Cebu got the running bug and are planning to join a run this year and invited John Pages for a briefing on the sport last week.

I guess it wouldn’t hurt if I suggest that we’d join a run, in Boracay.

Hot chase for 3 Cebu teams

By Mike T. Limpag

BORACAY - Three Cebu teams are still on the hunt for the P100,000 top prize as they made the semifinal round of the Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball national finals.

The University of the Visayas (UV) and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), who share a room, will be going for each other’s throats in the men’s division, while the University of Southern Philippines (USP) will be up against a familiar foe in the women’s division.

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UV and USJ-R made it to the final four and will be facing each other for the second time. UV won the first encounter in three sets.

Yesterday, UV’s Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo Jr. only needed to win one match to book their seat, while USJ-R’s Ariel Carumba and Loujie Tipgos had to overcome two teams to advance.

Other semis

The other semifinal will be between defending champion Foundation University and Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi.

Becaldo and Bendijo started their roll with a 21-18, 21-19 win over Far Eastern University (FEU) in the first game, keeping alive a four-set streak since losing the first set to USJ-R yesterday.

After losing to UV, Carumba and Tipgos picked up two straight wins. First to fall was Mahardika Institute of Technology, 21-13, 21-14, setting up a match against FEU.

FEU earlier defeated Holy Cross of Davao College, 21-9, 21-18, to stay alive.

However, the champion from Luzon was no match for the second Cebuano team it faced yesterday, and lost, 21-17, 21-16.

“We are a little bit challenged because we have one loss and if you haven’t lost, you tend to get complacent,” said Carumba
After a 10-10 standoff, USJ-R called for time and the short talk worked as they took the lead, 18-13.

“We were still reading their game then,” said Tipgos.

After drawing close to 20-16, Tipgos ended the first set with a spike.

Open spot

The second set was only competitive in the early part as Tipgos routinely won the battle at the net and kept finding the open spot, while Carumba’s diving digs foiled FEU’s potential winners.

After a 4-4 tie, USJ-R took the lead, 10-6 and FEU never got closer than three points as the Cebuano ended the set in 14 minutes to set up a rematch with UV.

“They have to communicate well tomorrow (today) because that’s very important,” said USJ-R coach Grace Antigua, who is hoping to end her three-year title drought in the Nestea national finals.

In the women’s side, USPF lost to University of Negros Oriental-Recoletos (UNO-R), 14-21, 21-18, 15-8, but came back strong in the afternoon match with a clinical two-set win over the University of the Cordilleras.

Erika Verano, who injured her ankle in the morning game, showed no signs of slowing down as she and Apple Saraum won, 21-13, 21-14, in just 27 minutes.

The two will next face Visayas champion UNO-R in the semis, while Adamson University faces the University of San Agustin in the other semifinal.

USJR, AdU advance in Nestea beach volley

By Joey Villar Updated May 09, 2009 12:00 AM



BORACAY, Philippines – University of San Jose-Recoletos and Adamson University essayed a pair of contrasting wins to barge into the semifinal round after sorry misses last year as action picked up in the Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit here yesterday.

Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos of USJR bucked the strong winds and the challenge of Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan of Far Eastern U, completing a straight-set 21-17, 21-16 victory and reaching the semis of this 13th staging of the annual tournament among the country’s top beach volley teams.

The perennial Cebu champions, who wound up fifth last year, actually bounced back from the losers’ bracket to remain in the hunt for the top P100,000 purse.

Angela Benting and Lizlee Ann Gata of Adamson, meanwhile, battled back from a set down to repulse Krystle Marie Suizo and Jackielyn Estoquia of University of San Agustin of Iloilo, 16-21, 21-18, 15-13, for their second straight win and a spot in the semis.

“We lost a three-setter to La Salle-Bacolod last year. Had we won that game, we would have been in the semifinals,” said Carumba, a fourth year business management student, in Filipino.

The 22-year-old Tipgos, a business administration junior, said they learned a lot from last year’s debacle.

“It taught us to work hard, play as a team and give it everything,” said Tipgos.

USJR lost to regional rival University of Visayas, 19-21, 21-23, 15-17, in last Thursday’s rain-hit double-loss elimination round but will try to get back at the Jade Becaldo-Precioso Bendijo Jr. pair in the semis.

The UV tandem breezed through with a 21-13, 21-19 win over Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan of Far Eastern U.

The Lady Falcons, winners of the Luzon qualifier but who placed sixth here last year, opened their bid with a 21-19, 21-12 demolition of Mykah Ramos and Aiza Armacion of Holy Cross of Davao College Thursday but had to work doubly hard to get past Suizo and Estoquia.

“We’re out to win the championship and bring it back to Luzon,” said Adamson mentor Dulce Pante, referring to the San Marcelino-based school’s victory in 2002 and St. Benilde’s title romp in 2005.

The tournament is sponsored by Ipanema, Speedo, Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu, L’Oreal Paris Elseve, Nautilus by PJ Arañador, Mikasa, D’Mall D’Boracay, Tagum Beach Volley Drome at Rotary Park, Hey! Jude Resort, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel and Crystal Sand Beach Resort.

Defending men’s champion Buensuceso Sayson and Arnel Amadeo of Foundation University of Dumaguete City beat Mohammad Reza Asakil and Halim Khan of Mindanao State U-Tawi-Tawi, 21-16, 29-25, to likewise advance to the next round.

Sayson and Amadeo will try to make it two in a row against Asakil and Khan, who stayed alive by eliminating Eden Canlas and Erickson Joseph Ramos of Letran in a marathon 21-17, 17-21, 21-16 win.

“We saw how they beat us, we know their game. Hopefully we could beat them in our rematch,” said MSU-Tawi-Tawi coach Edward Lee.

Julie Anne Billote and Ruby Rose Bordon of University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, the Visayan Leg titlist, also marched into the semis by overcoming Erika Camille Verano and Apple Saraum of University of Southern Philippins Foundation, 14-21, 21-12, 15-8.

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

Foundation tossers, Adamson near final

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO
May 8, 2009, 5:55pm


BORACAY – Defending men's champion Foundation University and Luzon women's leg titlist Adamson University moved a win of reaching the 13th Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Finals Friday with contrasting victories.

Behind a rock-solid defense and brilliant net assaults, the Foundation U pair of Buensuceso Sayson and Arnel Amadeo overwhelmed Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi's Mohammad Asakil and Halim Khan, 21-16, 27-25, to clinch the first Final Four berth.

“We had some hard time during the second set when they forced us to the limit, but we still pulled through because of our great defense,” said the-20-year old Amadeo, whose powerful smashes made him an instant hero in island paradise.

“We're a bit pressured going into the semifinals because there's a lot of expectation,” said the rookie Sayson, a commerce student, whose partnership with Amadeo also earned them this year's UniGames title.

FU, gunning for its third title after winning the crown in 2001, will face the winner between MSU-T and Letran Saturday, May 9.

While FU had a relatively easy going, Adamson's new pair of Angela Benting and Lizlee Ann Gata, the main core of the Lady Falcons who triumphed in the Shakey's V-League last year, needed a extra set to nip University of San Agustin's Krystle Marie Suizo and Jackielyn Estoquia, 16-21,21-18,15-13 to also cruise to the semifinals.

The Lady Falcons will face the victor between University of San Agustin and Far Eastern University in the Final Four.

In other women's play, Julie Billote and Rubie Bordon of Visyas leg champion University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos likewise made it to the Final Four following a 14-21,21-17,15-8 thrashing of University of Southern Philippines Foundations' Erika Verano and Apple Saraum.

In the other men's action, University of Visayas' Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo Jr. also eased though the next stage after surprising Joshua Alcarde and Jan Paglinawan of Luzon leg champion FEU 21-18, 21-19.

UV will face darkhorse University of San Jose-Recoletos' Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tigpos who dumped FEU, 21-17, 21-16 in the losers' bracket later in the day.

(Photo by NOEL CELIS)

Rainy day, perfect start

By Mike T. Limpag

BORACAY - It wasn’t a perfect day at the beach, but the University of the Visayas (UV) and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) had a perfect start at the Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball National Finals.

UV defeated the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), 19-21, 23-21, and 17-15, in the men’s division, while USPF won over the University of Mindanao-Davao (UM-Davao), 21-13, 22-20, in the women’s side.

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In the other games, it was defending men’s champion Foundation University over San Beda College, 21-14, 21-18;

University of Mindanao-Davao over Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, 21-18, 21-16; and Far Eastern University (FEU) over Mahardika Institute of Technology, 21-15, 20-22.

“They had many errors in the first set since the boys are still adjusting, but they were able to show what they can do,” said UV coach Raffy Briones, who won the women’s title in 2007.

Conditions

Though Ariel Craumba and Loujei Tipgos practiced for weeks in Cebu, Briones said they had difficulty adjusting to the conditions here.

“Everything is different in Boracay, it’s a different type of sand. We also had to adjust to the wind since it was very strong,” said Briones. “The team that adjusts well will have the advantage.”

The two teams played closely in the third set with neither taking more than a one-point lead.

Jade Becaldo’s reception error and a well-placed shot by Tigos broke a 9-9 deadlock for an 11-9 USJ-R lead, forcing Briones to call for a timeout.

“I told them that we can still win this and it was good that they responded,” said Briones.

UV caught up at 12-12, then at 15-15 before Becaldo scored on a spike and a soft tap to an open spot for their three-set win.
UV will next face FEU, while USJ-R, which defeated Letran, 21-17, 21-12, in the first game yesterday, will take on MIT.

If USJ-R wins, and UV loses, the two will meet again for a spot in the semis.

Rainy

Meanwhile, the rain poured in the early afternoon, but USPF got a lucky break as it was after its game against UM-D, the champions from Mindanao.

USPF coach Thelma Datig said Apple Saraum and Erika Verano only had a week of practice for the national finals, but the lack of preparation didn’t show in their 30-minute win.

From 10-8, USPF broke away to 20-12 before Janice Arnaiz ended the first set in a little over 13 minutes with a service error.

The second set got a bit more competitive as UMD saved three match points to force a tiebreak, 20-20.

However, UMD wasted its chance with yet another service error, while Verano ended the match with her signature spike.

“We only had a one-week practice since the two also competed in the national Prisaa (Private Schools Athletic
Association),” said Datig, who is hoping for a top four finish this year.

Saraum, who is on her first national finals, and Verano will next face the winner of the match between Visayas champion University of Negros-Oriental and UM-Tagum today.

Bad start for Davao spikers

By Charles Raymond A. Maxey

BORACAY -- Buensuceso Sayson and Arnel Amadeo opened their bid for another crown for Foundation University (FU) on a bright note Thursday.

Sayson and Amadeo crushed Leonel Evan Laraya and James Christian Lorca of San Beda College (SBC) in straight sets, 21-14, 21-18, at the start of the 13th Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit Finals in this summer paradise.

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Amadeo is paired with Sayson for the first time, but the two tossers performed as if they were playing together for a long time in scoring their first victory in the men's division of this three-day championship. FU had already won two national crowns and is gunning for a third one on the Amadeo-Sayson tandem.

University of Visayas (UV), represented by Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo Jr., also got off to a rousing start following its thrilling 19-21, 23-21, 17-15 win over Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos of the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R).

As the Cebu pairs had a great opening day, spikers from Davao City got spanked and are in danger of bowing out early in the competition.

The University of Mindanao (UM)-Davao suffered defeats in both the men's and women's divisions. UM's Paul John Saraga and Galileo Mascardo went down in straight sets to Mohammad Reza Asakil and Halim Khan of Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, 12-21, 16-21, in a morning match.

UM-Davao's Janice Arnaiz and Jennifer Conde, who topped the Mindanao leg of the event last March, also dropped their match against Erika Camille Verano and Apple Saraum of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), 12-21, 20-22, in women's action in the afternoon.

Mykah Ramos and Aiza Armacion of Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) were set to play Adamson University's Angela Benting and Lizlee Ann Gata late in the afternoon, hoping for a win to stop the Davao bleeding.

The winners in both divisions here will receive P100,000, while the second and third placers are assured of P65,000 and P35,000, respectively.

The Nestea Fit Beach Beach Volley National Circuit is sponsored by Ipanema, Speedo, Parkmall, La'Oreal Paris Elseve, Nautilus by PJ Aranador, Mikasa, D'Mall D'Boracay, Tagum Beach Volleydrome at Rotary Park, Cebu Volleyball Association, Hey! Jude Beach Resort, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel, and Crystal Sand Beach Resort.

Nestea beach volley finals begin

By Romina Austria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:45:00 05/07/2009

Filed Under: Volleyball

BORACAY—Foundation University shoots for a third national title with a new duo in the 2009 Nestea Fit Beach Volley finals which starts today in this famous island paradise.

Arnel Amadeo and new partner Buensuceso Sayson topped the Visayas leg on April 18 and drew a first-day bye along with Luzon topnotcher Far Eastern University and Mindanao winner Mindanao State University-Tawi Tawi.

Amadeo teamed up with Rolando Agos when Foundation beat University of Southern Philippines Foundation in the 2008 finals, seven years after ruling the event for the first time.

“Sayson plays almost like Agos so I still have a good team this year,” said Foundation coach Dwight Sun.

Foundation can expect tough competition from FEU, also the 1999 winner and UAAP champion in 2006 and 2007, NCAA champion Letran, two-time national winner University of San Jose Recoletos which also topped the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi); and 2007 champion MSU-Tawi Tawi.

Letran is fielding the players who ruled the NCAA, Joseph Erickson Ramos and Eden Canlas. USJR retained the 2008 tandem which ruled Cesafi, Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos.

A new women’s division champion will be crowned this year after 2008 champion Southwestern U failed to hurdle the Visayas qualifiers. Adamson and FEU are the top favorites.

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