CEBU, Philippines - The entire Visayanian community relished another historic moment in the sporting arena with two straight national championships in beach volley event within a week.
First, the formidable University of the Visayas (UV) tandem of Mike Abria and Jade Becaldo snatched the men's title of the 15th Nestea Beach Volley National Finals last April 21 in Boracay Island, outlasting Jade Illut and Jason Uy of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), 21-16, 21-19.
UV, thus, reached another milestone, becoming the first school in Cebu to have produced national title-holders in both divisions of the prestigious annual event bankrolled the Nestle Philippines. In 2007, UV's Jusabelle Brillo and Janiz Armie Ygot bagged the women's crown after egding out Southwestern University's Marites Natad and Jannele Tabio.
Just yesterday, Abria and fellow Zamboangeño Mark Fernandez vaulted UV to another crowning glory after they pounded the University of Mindanao (UM)-Tagum to rule the beach volley event of the 2012 Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Collegiate Games at the SWU sandcourt.
"UV really takes pride for being the first school in Cebu to have won national championships of a beach volley tournament in both men's and women's divisions. They also topped the same event in the PRISAA and they did both in just one week. That's a feat in itself," said UV Assistant Vice President for Finance and Administration Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas, Jr.
"This only shows that UV is not only a school of champions, but also a school of national champions," added Samsam Gullas, recalling UV's glorious campaign in the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) National Under-16 Basketball Championship two months ago in Baguio City.
At the paradise island in Boracay, UV had to go through the loser's bracket before creeping back their way to the top.
"They edify the UV spirit. It fights when the odds are greatest," said UV president and Cebu First District Rep. Eduardo "Eddiegul" R. Gullas.
After losing to Arellano University, the top seed from the National Capital Region (NCR), during their second game, Becaldo and Abria did not wilt down. Instead, they fought with renewed challenge to eventually set up an all-Cebu finals with USJ-R.
"We did not feel any sense of discouragement after we were relegated into the loser's bracket. It even motivated us to strive harder. I'm happy that all our efforts and sacrifices really paid off because we won the championship," said the 21-year-old Abria, an incoming fifth year student taking up Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
Paired with a rookie player, the Liloan, Cebu-native Becaldo said teamwork really mattered most in their journey to success.
"I'm so proud that UV claimed the men's title for the first time and I'm part of it," said Becaldo, who just finished third along with Precioso Bendijo in 2009.
"I think teamwork was one of the key factors to our success. Even though he's (Abria) just a rookie player, we jelled well because he listens to my instructions. He executes deftly what I tell him to do," added the graduating student taking up Associate in Marine Transportation.
And no else could be happier for their astounding feat other than their tireless coach Raffy Briones.
"It's their fighting spirit and strong determination that carried them to victory," said Briones. "As their coach, I'm very happy and proud to have achieved such feat for UV. It's truly a big honor for the school." (FREEMAN)