Abdilla, Buytrago kinaldag ang Japanese tandem

MANILA, Philippines — Ipinakita nina Ran Abdilla at James Buytrago ang kanilang tikas upang kaldagin ang pambato ng Japan na sina Yoshi Hasegawa at Dylan Kurokawa, 22-24, 24-22, 15-9, sa Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championship na nilaro sa Nuvali Sand Courts sa Santa Rosa kahapon.

Napalaban ng todo sina Abdilla at Buytrago sa unang set matapos ang masaklap na kabiguan kaya kinailangan nilang kumayod sa set 2 upang makahirit ng deciding third set.

Nakontrol naman ng Pinoy netters ang third frame para makuha ang importanteng panalo.

“We will not simply break down and give up,” ani Buytrago. “It was a very difficult and frustrating first set, but we just had to continue fighting. We needed this win badly.”

Bumangon ang Alas Pilipinas top men’s pair mula sa straight sets loss kina Alani Nicklin at Thomas Hartles ng New Zealand upang ilista ang 1-1 record tungo sa krusyal match pool play kontra kina Netitorn Muneekul at Wachirawit Muadpha ng  Thailand sa tournament na suportado ng Nuvali, Ayala Land, Rebisco, Smart, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, City of Santa Rosa, Mikasa, Senoh, Asics, Akari, Sip, Cignal, One Sports, One Sports Plus, Pilipinas Live, Asian Volleyball Confederation at Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

“We were really tired, but the mindset is to win,” ani Abadilla. “There is nothing better than the feeling of winning, but we’re not done here yet, lots of volleyball left to play.”

Yumuko naman sina Rancel Varga at Lerry Franciso kina  Dunwinit Kaewsai at Banlue Nakprakong, 14-21, 19-21. 

Makaka-puwersa sana sina Varga at Franciso ng decider nang makalamang sila ng limang puntos sa second set pero hindi nila nakayanan ang tikas ng kanilang kalaban.