After more than a hundred matches from the eliminations up to the finals, this was what came out of the ninth Nestea Beach Volley tournament, which ended on a hot, hot note yesterday.
Southwestern University became the first team to win three straight Nestea crowns when it ruled the women’s division at the expense of University of Mindanao in Tagum, 21-14, 21-14.
Florian Gutierrez and Marites Natad, the same tandem than emerged champion last year, celebrated under the blazing sun after scoring the winning point against Liezl Manatad and Mylin Que.
They hugged each other near the baseline then approached the net to embrace their fallen opponents in the spirit of true sportsmanship.
The victory, fashioned out before a star-studded crowd that actually cheered for both teams, once again reaffirmed Southwestern’s dominance of the annual Nestea event where no other school has won three titles in a row.
St. Benilde, on the other hand, finally emerged champion by beating 2004 winner University of San Jose Recoletos for the men’s title, 21-13, 21-16, in just a little over 30 minutes.
Arnold Laniog and Janley Patrona of St, Benilde, the reigning NCAA beach volley champions, showed a tougher defense, a stronger offense and better teamwork all throughout.
The tried and tested Joseph Alguno and Jonrey "Air" Sasing of USJR were caught flat-footed most of the time. Sasing was so frustrated early in the second set that he kicked the ball after flubbing a smash near the net.
"Basta ibinigay lang namin ang lahat then reward na lang ang panalo," said Patrona, adding that this could be his last beach volley tournament. He plans to concentrate on indoor volley where he is hoping to make the RP team for this year’s SEA Games.
Patrona and Laniog, a 6-foot power-hitter, proved unbeatable this year, winning all their four matches during last month’s elims and all five here in Boracay.
"Masyadong beterano," said Sasing of the winning pair.
The men’s and women’s champions will win 100,000 each and P50,000 worth of sports equipment for their respective schools. The two runners-up, on the other hand, will receive P50,000 each.
This year’s sponsors are D’Mall D’Boracay, Speedo, Mikasa, Cebu Pacific, Hey Jude Resorts, La Salle Greenhills, Villa de Oro, Coppertone, Boracay Regency, Power Plant Mall, National Sports Grill and ClicktheCity.com.