Japanese, Chinese advance to semis

Fancied Japan 1 and China 1 fashioned out contrasting victories yesterday to barge into the semifinals of the second Nestea Beach Volleyball Asian Women’s Championship at the CCP Complex.

Out to retain the title won by their compatriots last year, Ryoko Tokuno and Chiaki Kusuhara outclassed the Chinese pair of You Wenhui and Pan Wangye, 21-14, 21-13, to clinch the first semis berth.

So overpowering were Tokuno and Kusuhara, bronze medalists in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, that they needed only less than 13 minutes to beat You and Pan, who beat Japan’s second team of Noriko Nakamura and Tomoko Ukigaya Friday.

Joining Japan 1 in the next round was China 1, which bounced back from an opening set loss by winning the next two to repulse the gritty Thailand 1 side.

Unleashing a barrage of crisp kills and coming up with big receptions, China 1’s Han Bo and Sun Jing outlasted Manatsanan Pangka and Rattanaporn Arlaisuk of Thailand 1, 23-25, 21-15, 15-13.

China 1 thus arranged a semis clash with Japan 1 in a duel of the favorites with the winner advancing into the finals set at 2 p.m. today.

While the visitors occupied the leaderboard, all three teams fielded in by host Philippines crash out of contention after absorbing defeats.

The last one to be eliminated was reigning Nestea National Open champion RP 1’s Philippine Navy squad, which was too inexperienced against powerhouse Australia 1.

Getting back to their feet after losing to a more determined Thailand 1 team the other day, Australia 1’s Summer Lochowicz and Kylie Gerlic displayed their power net game to trounce Helen Dosdos and Johanna Bottor of RP 1, 21-17, 21-15.

RP 3’s Glenda Pintolo and Cecille Tabuena had a good start in Day 2 when they downed Hong Kong’s Judi Laprade and Tong Lai Ming, 15-21, 21-17, 17-15, before bowing out with a 10-21, 7-21 humiliation at the hands of Ni Putu Tiny Yudhano Rahayu and Reisma Siswardini of Indonesia 1 later in the day.

RP 2’s San Sebastian pair of Sheryl Tumayao and Jennifer Buhawe, the current collegiate titlists, were shown the door early after losing to Australia 2’s Avery sisters Megan and Faye, 9-21, 18-21.