Nestea beach volley UV, USJ-R into semis

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas (UV) and University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) slammed separate foes to book semifinal tickets in the 15th Nestea Beach Volley National Finals yesterday at Crystal Sand Beach Resort in Boracay Island.

The UV tandem of Jade Becaldo and Mike Abria of coach Raffy Briones thrashed the Luzon champion, Alnakran Abdilla and Joel Villanueva of De La Salle University (DLSU)-Dasma 21-11, 21-18.

Prior to the match, Becaldo and Abria thumped Roldan Medino Jr. and Imbran Idris of Mindanao State University (MSU)-Tawi-tawi, 21-7, 21-12 and they later fended off Arvin Avila and Karlian Dela Calzada of Far Eastern University (FEU), 23-21, 21-17.

Jason Uy and Jade Illut of USJ-Ralso proved that being a neophyte tandem in the national scene was not a hindrance as they overpowered Visayas champion Roelene Inaudito and Kerwin Reje of the University of St. La Salle (USLS)-Bacolod, 21-14, 21-19.

The Grace Antigua-mentored tandem also beat Roneil De Guzman and Nelson Alejo of the University of Luzon (UL), 21-8, 21-19 and had to pass through a three-set thriller against the equally-tough Joel Villonson Jr. and Edmar Flores of Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC), 21-11, 15-21, 15-8.

In the distaff side, Danika Yolanda Gendrauli and Lorie May Layno of Southwestern University (SWU) also tried to earn semifinal ticket after registering twin victories.

The Jason Gabales-coached SWU crushed UL’s Melanie Carrera and Cassandra Ledda, 21-5, 21-9 and also quelled Luzon champion Jennifer Manzano and Gieselle Bembo of DLSU-Dasma, 21-9, 20-22, 15-9. (FREEMAN)