Visayan aces renew feud in Superliga volley final

MANILA, Philippines - Two of the best beach volley players from the Visayas spice up tomorrow’s PLDT Home Ultera Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2015 powered by Smart Live More finale as they tangle in a personal duel at the Sands By the Bay in SM Mall of Asia.

The pride of Iloilo, Fiola Ceballos of Foton Tornadoes, will renew her rivalry with Cebu’s best in Danica Gendrauli of Gilligan’s in the gold-medal match to be aired live on TV5.

A 20-year-old Tourism senior from Central Philippine University, Ceballos is regarded as one of the best young players on the sand. She partnered with another Ilongga in Patty Jane Orendain of Bacolod to tow the Tornadoes to a pair of victories in the classification round before demolishing their sister team – Foton Hurricane – in the semifinals of the event organized by Sports Core with Accel as official outfitter, Senoh as technical sponsor, Sands By the Bay as venue partner and Maynilad as official water provider.  

But Gendrauli, a 24-year-old ace from Southwestern University, vowed to go all out, not only to win the crown, but also to avenge a pair of setbacks to Ceballos and her erstwhile partner, national team skipper Jovelyn Gonzaga, in a commercial beach volley tournament in the island of  Boracay in 2012 and 2013.

“We beat them in the regionals but we lost in the championship,” said Gendrauli, who went through the wringer before escaping with a tough three-set win over Cignal HD Spikers B in the semis.

“That would be my motivation that’s why we’re training hard to come up with a solid showing in the finals,” said Gendrauli.

Ceballos stressed that winning over Gendrauli was a different story that happened in a different time.

She said she had improved tremendously and her partnership with the defense-savvy Diaz makes her one of the most lethal players in this four-week tournament.  

Focus will also be on the title showdown in the men’s division between Hachaliah Gilbuena and Jade Becaldo of SM By the Bay A and Tippy Tipgos and Marjun Alingasa of Champion Infinity B.

Becaldo, one of the best sand spikers from the University of the Visayas, will again test the mettle of Tipgos, who used to campaign for University of San Jose-Recoletos. Their rivalry in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. continues in Manila when they clash for the crown.