MSU, UM Mindanao volleyball champs

TAGUM CITY, Philippines – Mindanao State U- Tawi Tawi and University of Mindanao-Davao were crowned the new beach volley champions in Mindanao yesterday at the Tagum Beach Volley Drome here.

Mohammad Asakil and Halim Khan of MSU-T had no difficulty beating Paul Saraga and Galileo Mascardo of UM-Davao, 21-8, 21-17, in the men’s finals played under cloudy skies.

Janice Arnaiz and Jennifer Conde of UM-Davao won the women’s title with an easy 21-16, 21-11 win over Lourdily Catubag and Jestine Gonzales of UM-Tagum, last year’s Mindanao champion.

Now, MSU-Tawi Tawi and UM-Davao will lead the Mindanao entries in the May 6-9 Boracay stage of the Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit that offers P100,000 to the champion teams.

Mursaid Hadkjirul and Mohammad Ali Maih of Mahardika Institute of Technology summoned all their strength to beat Allen Sales and Dionesio Garcia Jr. in a marathon battle for third, 27-25, 20-22, 22-20.

It was a heart-stopping contest that proved to be more exciting than the final match as the crowd kept cheering the players on, particularly Hadkjirul who put on a little dance each time he scored a point.

It will be the first time that MIT will be represented in the Boracay finals of this Nestea event, and after the winning point, its players, and coach John Lee whooped it up, lying on the sand as if they’ve won the national title.

The top three men’s teams in Mindanao last year – Capitol U, University of Mindanao-Tagum and Holy Cross of Davao College -- were sacked after three days of intense action here.

Mykah Ramos and Aiza Armacion of Holy Cross Davao drew cheers from friends as they stopped Lina Gampong and Adawia Sabal of MSU-Tawi Tawi, 14-21, 21-19, 15-10, for third place in the women’s side.

Luzon teams advancing to Boracay after going through elims at the Mall of Asia are FEU, Letran and San Beda in the men’s side, and Adamson, FEU and the University of the Cordilleras in the women’s side.

The Visayas elims are set April 16 to 18 at Parkmall in Mandaue City in Cebu. Last year’s champions, Foundation U (men) and Southwestern U (women) hail from the Visayas, making it the region to beat.

The champion teams in Boracay will earn P100,000 each.

This year’s sponsors are Ipanema, Speedo, Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu, L’Oreal Paris Elseve, Nautilus by PJ Arañador, Mikasa, D’Mall D’Boracay, Tagum Beach Volley Drome at Rotary Park, Hey! Jude Resort, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel and Crystal Sand Beach Resort.