No friendly Thais in title duel

CLARK Field, Pampanga – Thailand 1 hardly worked up a sweat under punishing heat yesterday, dominating its compatriot in the title game of the first Clark Centennial beach volleyball Cup for its second leg win in the Asian women’s circuit at scenic Clearwater Country Club here.

Manatsanan Pangka and Ariaisuk Ratanaporn needed just 34 minutes in taking a 21-16, 21-15 decision of fellow Thais Kamolthip Kulna and Juranee Sanoh, pocketing the $3,000 champion’s purse in this five-nation, eight-team meet organized by the AYN Sports Management Group, the PAVA, Asian Volleyball Confederation and Pagcor.

The top-seeded pair, which came off a fourth place finish in the Hong Kong leg last week, actually put on a splendid display of teamanship that made the title game a lopsided affair, one which was not expected after the classification games earlier in the day provided a lot of thrills.

The two Indonesian teams fought hard for every point earlier, with the tandem of Emerita Arisanti and Nanik Nurayda prevailing over pretty Atlanta Olympic Games veteran Yudhani Ni Puti Timy and Nurjanah Sitti, 14-21, 21-13, 15-13 in 44 minutes.

Japan and Vietnam dueled for 70 minutes and three agonizing sets before the Japanese pulled out a 23-21, 21-23, 23-21 decision that was good for fifth place in the meet backed by CDC, Clearwater, Speedo, Sharp, Caltrate, Gatorade, the PSC and The Philippine STAR.

The pair of Helen Dosdos and Cecille Tabuena won seventh place over the Jennifer Bohawe-Sarah Faye Luna tandem, 21-16, 21-14, in the battle for the crumbs that started off final day hostilities.

"This event shows that when you get together and pool your resources, you can achieve something positive," said AYN president Chito Narvasa.

The series saw stops in India, China, Philippines, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Thailand actually hosted two legs with Pangka and Ratanaporn, the team ranked 18th in the world, winning one in their hometown against a powerhouse field that included two Chinese teams.

The awarding of trophies followed after the games, with CDC chief executive officer Emmanuel Angeles and board chairman Rizalino Navarro and Magalang Mayor Pastor Guiao handing over the checks and the handsomely-crafted trophies.