Tawi-Tawi pair bags Mindanao’s first title

BORACAY – No Mindanao teams have ever ruled the Nestea Beach Volleyball Championships since its inception a decade ago. A determined pair from Tawi-Tawi ended the drought.

Drawing strength from a late burst of energy, Gabshar Tahilluddin and Yusop Abdulkarim of Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi edged Joshua Alcarde and Jeremy Pedregosa of Far Eastern U in a marathon, come-from-behind 23-21, 15-21, 17-15 victory to give Mindanao its first ever crown before a loud weekend crowd on the white sands of this island paradise.

"I thought we’ve already lost so I decided to just pour in all my energy and strength," said the 26-year-old Tahilluddin, who hopes to teach kids when he returns back home. "I’m glad we didn’t give up," he added.

The win gave the Tahilluddin-Abdulkarim pair, who earlier smashed James Ryan Rivera and Ronald Melencion of University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 21-18, 21-13, in the semifinals, the top purse worth P150,000, a trophy and the bragging rights as the country’s best beach volley tandem.

Alcarde and Pedregosa, who made it this far after rallying past Rolando Agus and Arnel Madeo of Foundation U, 13-21, 21-16, 15-13, in the semis, settled for the runner-up purse worth P75,000.

"I will use the money as capital for the business I’m planning to put up back home," said Tahilluddin.

Unlike the closely-fought men’s finale, the women’s side lacked the drama after Janez Armie Igot and Jusabelle Brillo of University of Visayas downed Cebu rivals Marites Natad and Janelle Tabio of Southwestern U in a quick, merciless 22-20, 21-15 win to clinch their first championship.

Igot and Brillo were also business-like in disposing Carren Desierto and Dolly Penaflorida of Holy Cross of Davao, 21-17, 21-15, in the Final Four on their way to the finals.

Meanwhile, Foundation U’s Agus and Madeo bucked a first set loss in downing Rivera and Melencion of USPF, 21-23, 21-15, 17-15, while Desierto and Penaflorida humbled Hannah Suarez and Rissa Jane Laguilles of Adamson, who lost in the semis to SWU, 12-21, 12-21, in a 21-13, 22-20 triumph to clinch third place.

The third placer will receive P40,000 while the fourth P20,000.

But the biggest game of this tournament backed by Speedo, Mikasa, Villa de Oro Boracay Beach Resort Hotel, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, Boracay Gold Crowne Club, Microtel Inns and Suites, Hey! Jude, La Salle-Greenhills, Schering Plough Coppertone and Crystal Sand, was the men’s finals game.

After splitting the first two sets in an entertaining and energetic display of jump serves, power-hitting and solid blocking, the Tams solidified their defense up front to frustrate their foes and seize 10-3 and 12-9 leads.

Three points away from the title, Alcarde and Pedregosa disintegrated as Tahilludin, armed with resolve, willed his team back with his tenacity both on attack and defense to steal the crown.

When Tahilluddin drove in a powerful spike to seal the deal, pandemonium broke loose as fans-mostly Muslims living hereËœbroke through the wooded barriers and whopped it up with the Tawi-Tawi pair in celebration.