SWU belles win Unigames beach volleyball title

CEBU, Philippines - Never did they expect that their first stint in the University Games would be the key to the fulfillment of their long-time wish to be part of the Nestea beach volley scene as Danika Yolanda Gendrauli and Lorie May Layno of Southwestern University (SWU) were hailed as beach volley queens.

They snatched the crown from the towering University of St. La Salle (USLS)-Dasmariñas in the event held in Dumaguete City.

More than winning the title in the inter-school event, the victory also meant a slot for the prestigious beach volleyball tournament of the country -- the Nestea beach volleyball event in Boracay.

Due to some changes, it will no longer have regional qualifying rounds and will just tap in the champions from different leagues in the country including the University Games.

SWU coach Jordan Paca said that the competition this year was different from last year because almost all of the tough teams from Manila and Mindanao participated including the University of the Philippines, Adamson University, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, Far Eastern University and Mindanao State University-Tawi-tawi, which are also former Nestea qualifiers in the previous seasons.

The gritty duo of Genrauli and Layno trounced the defending champions, Jean Manzano and Satchel Senope of USLS-Dasmariñas, 25-14, 21-18, in their championship match.

Gendrauli said that they were not really expecting that much because they only had four days of practice at Wiggy's beach resort in Liloan before they went to Dumaguete and when they arrived they did not have even a single practice because they also played in the indoor competition.

"What motivated us during the game was when our coach and Sir Ryan (Aznar) told us to do our best para mobawi mi sa beach volley. But it did not give us pressure but it really encouraged us. We were just enjoying our games and of course with hopes to win also," said Gendrauli.

Paca said that their performances were exemplary from the start up to the final round. As a proof, they stayed unbeaten with a clean 3-0 slate in the elimination round and then fended off Foundation University (FU) in the penultimate battle, 21-5, 21-16.

"Nindot gyud kaayo ilang performance ug ilang duwa from the start to finish. I had no negative reactions in all of their matches. They were able to execute well all my instructions and they really have teamwork and presence of mind despite facing opponents with the height advantage," said Paca.

This is not the first championship for the team-up of Gendrauli and Layno as they also bagged the inaugural title of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) beach volleyball event in 2008.

Paca said that Layno and Gendrauli had really improved a lot and their win was able to save SWU women’s indoor team, the back-to-back Cesafi champions, which failed in their title hunt.

“We really lack man power in the indoor because Princess Anne Pido was not there and Elizabeth Emnace was sick. That is why winning the beach volleyball was able to save our disappointment,” said Paca.

In men’s volleyball, the Cesafi grand slam champion, University of San Jose-Recoletos, only finished fourth after losing to University of Sto. Tomas in the battle for third, 33-31, 28-30, 26-24, 25-23. (FREEMAN)