Kristel Satumbaga
TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte — Capitol University and University of Mindanao-Tagum topped the Mindanao eliminations yesterday to lead four other teams into the national semifinals of the 12th Nestea Beach Volleyball tournament at the Tagum Beach Volley Drome in Rotary Park here.
Kiven Escobal and rookie partner John Michael Vivares outplayed Holy Cross of Davao College’s Allen Sales and Celboy Atendido, 21-16, 14-21, 15-13, in the semifinals before being handed the title without a sweat, winning the finals against Raquelito Tayabas and Lowell Fabian of the University of Mindanao-Tagum via walkover.
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Lowell Fabian of University of
Mindanao-Tagum; Eduardo
Gonzales of Agusan Institute of
Technology | |
UM-Tagum, however, bounced back in the distaff side as Mylin Que and Liezl Manatad outplayed University of Mindanao-Davao’s Maricel Cabus and Janice Arnaiz, 22-20, 21-15, and Holy Cross of Davao College’s Mykah Ramos and Aiza Armacion, 21-7, 21-7, in succession.
Despite the loss, Ramos and Armacion also booked a ticket to the national semifinals, set in Boracay next month, by tripping the pair of Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi’s Lina Gampong and Fauzia Idrissalam, 18-21, 21-17, 15-8, in the Mindanao leg semis.
Claiming the women’s division’s third and last berth in the Boracay competitions were Cabus and Arnaiz, who ousted Gampong and Idrissalam, 21-7, 21-15, in the battle for third place.
In the men’s side, Tayabas and Fabian, who were forced to abandon the finals on doctor’s advice, also made the grade to Boracay after whipping the pair of Agusan Institute of Technology’s Orpheus Cubillas and Eduardo Gonzales Jr., 21-15, 21-14.
Doctors had advised Tayabas to get plenty of rest as he was still recovering from high fever caused by urinary tract infection.
"Masaya na kami at nag-qualify kami sa nationals," Fabian, a 22-year-old Criminology student, said. "Gusto man naming makapaglaro sa finals pero kailangan na kasing magpahinga ng partner ko."
It was Tayabas and Fabian’s third semifinal trip after placing eighth and ninth, respectively, in 2004 and 2005.
Escobal, however, earned his third semifinal trip after winning fourth and seventh in 2005, and 2007, with his former partner, Cubillas.
"Maganda ang chemistry namin kahit bago lang siya," the 21-year-old Criminology student Escobal said, referring to Vivares. "Pareho kaming blocker at malakas din ang attacks namin."
Sales and Atendido, meanwhile, completed the men’s cast with a 21-14, 21-13 decision over Cubillas and Gonzales in the battle for third.
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