USJR spikers on a mission

University of San Jose Recoletos hurdled its opening match yesterday and underscored its intention to rule the men’s division of the 10th Nestea Beach Volley Championships.

Jonrey Sasing and Joseph Alguno said they trained long and hard for this year’s competition as they hope to avenge their bitter loss to St. Benilde in the 2005 finals in Boracay.

"We trained for two months. And we trained almost everyday in the last few weeks," said Alguno after he and Sasing whipped University of the Visayas, 25-14.

The USJR pair put on a dazzling show at the La Salle Greenhills sandcourt as the Visayas elims, featuring 12 teams each in the men’s and women’s divisions, got underway.

"But we intend to take it one game at a time. Our initial target is to get to Boracay," said Sasing, a member of the 2002 USJR team that won the men’s crown.

USJR also won the title in 2004.

Foundation University and University of St. La Salle won their first two matches in the men’s division to boost their chances of making it to the next round of this summer event.

Foundation’s Kent Bulabon and Rolando Agus eked out a 25-14 win over Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion before pulling off a 25-19 win over University of Southern Philippines.

St. La Salle’s Marlon Luces and Mark Sabusap won twice, beating Iloilo Doctor’s College, 25-17, in the morning before stopping University of San Carlos, 25-22, in the afternoon.

In the women’s side, University of San Agustin’s Nerrisa Bautista and Krista Marie Dolendo stunned Marites Natad and Hazel Pineros of three-time champion Southwestern University, 25-12.

Recording early wins like San Agustin were University of Cebu over San Carlos, 25-16, Negros Occ. Recoletos over University of Iloilo, 25-5, and St. La Salle over University of Southern Philippines, 26-24.