UV, SWU belles off to rousing start

Women’s defending champion University of the Visayas (UV) and runner-up Southwestern University (SWU) romped away with victories over their respective rivals at the start of the 12th Nestea Beach Volleyball Visayas eliminations at the University of St. La Salle sandcourt in Bacolod yesterday.

Janez Igot and Jusabelle Brillo outplayed University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos’ (UNO-R) Jenny Torres and Julie Billote, 21-11, 21-14, as the UV bets got off to a fiery start in the double-elimination format.

Igot, a 25-year-old Hotel and Restaurant Management student from Mandaue City, and Brillo imposed their will early as they peppered their rival with powerful smashes and hard digs to startle Torres and Billote.

SWU’s Janelle Tabio and new partner Florian Gutierrez, meanwhile, walloped University of Iloilo’s (UI) Richell Arroz and Karen Aranda, 21-11, 21-8, in the other featured contest.

University of San Jose-Recoletos also made its presence felt with twin victories in the men’s side. Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos first beat Colegio de San Agustin-Bacolod’s Jeffrey Getida and Armando Diwatin Jr., 21-13, 21-10, then came back with a hard-earned 16-21, 21-16, 15-8 win over University of St. La Salle-Bacolod’s Emmanuel Luces and Mark Sabusap.

Last year’s semifinalist Rolando Agus and Arnel Amadeo of Foundation U also opened their bid on a high note with a 21-16, 21-9 thrashing of UV’s Jade Becaldo and Jose Marie Etcobañez. 

Sharing the day’s honors were University of San Agustin’s Allan Dayang and Verdin De Ocampo, who beat Je-Em Laranja and Nicanor Depamaylo Jr. of UI, 21-13, 21-15, and Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion’s Joemar Hernandez and Jan Mhar Basinang, who thwarted John Paul Geollegue and Jhonson Mag-alasin of UNO-R, 21-14, 21-14.

In women’s action, University of Southern Philippines Foundation’s Herlene Ybarita and Erika Verano beat San Agustin’s Jackelyn Estoquia and Marian Jamora, 21-19, 21-14, while Foundation’s Maria Antonia Gabiligno and Elenie Perew-Perew tripped Una Piagola and Aiza Pama of Iloilo Doctors College, 21-13, 21-11.