MLKP now 2-0 in beach volley tilt:USJ-R A, Arthro also score second wins

The MLKP belles eased through their second straight victory in as many starts, even as the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R)Team A and Arthro Kontra Arthritis also hammered their respective foes in the continuing action of the 2nd M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala All-Ladies Beach Volley Open at the Wiggy’s Beach Resort in Liloan, Cebu.

Kennette Garces and Sarah Miculob of Team MLKP dished out a 25-21 victory over Abellana National School (ANS) in come-from-behind fashion to join the University of the Visayas (UV) and Southwestern University (SWU) teams A and B on top of the leader board with similar 2-0 win-loss records.

It was a breath-taking triumph for MLKP as Miculob fought with a big heart despite a sprained right ankle. Also, Garces stepped up bigtime to keep MLKP away from what could have been an embarrassing upset to the high school volleybelles.

The ANS mainstays capitalized on MLKP’s sluggish start and consistently led by at least two points for most part of the match. The last time ANS was ahead was at 20-21 as Garces and Miculob conjured all the strength and experience they could muster to sweep next five possessions for the kill.

In the other game, former RP Youth members Michelle Simbajon and Genie Sabas of the Grace Antigua-mentored USJ-R Team A clobbered Leynette Auza and Renicael Berdon of Rev. Fr. Rolando T. Manayon’s RTM Squad, 25-14.

On the other hand, Marites Natad and Christine Rose Bohol of Arthro went through two slides before edging out Yvonne Verano and Danika Gendrauli of the University of Southern Philippine Foundation (USPF) Team B, 27-25.

USJ-R Team A and Arthro of coach Thelma Datig now sport identical 2-1 win-loss cards.

It was, however the Inayagan stalwarts of Naga City who decked the biggest stunner of the day when they upended the fancied USPF Team A tandem of Erika Camille Verano and Herlene Ybarita, 25-22.

Action in the month-long tournament organized by M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF) executive director Eddie B. Ybañez and supervised by the Cebu Volleyball Federation (CVF) through its president Raul Gonzales will resume on Sunday still at the same venue.

The competition follows a single round robin format in the classification round. The top two teams will advance into the crossover semifinals, with the winners slugging it out for the title.

Aside from trophies, the champion will get P5,000, while the second and third placers will pocket P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.