Philippine spikers give Sweden a scare

MANILA, Philippines - For a while in the second set yesterday, Daika Gendrauli and Jane Diaz of Philippines Team B appeared to have stunned Sweden’s Karin Lundqvist and Anne-Lie Rinisland in the opening day of the Spike for Peace indoor beach volley tournament at Philsports Arena.

The Filipina pair, after dropping the opening set, 21-13, raced to a 9-2 lead in the second, giving the fans rooting for them a lot to cheer about.

But the top beach volley tandem from Sweden regained their composure, and slowly narrowed the gap and tied the set at 16 until they managed to clinch the match, 21-13, 21-16.

Gendrauli and Diaz, the reigning Philippine Super Liga beach volley champions, walked away with the loss but made some heads turn in the event that drew 14 pairs from 12 countries.

“They anticipated our moves,” said Gendrauli.

The tournament, organized by the Philippine Sports Commission, enters its second day today with action expected to heat up heading to the knockout stage. The 12 teams have been divided into four groups that will play a single round robin.

The Swedish pair threw praises at their Pinay counterparts.

“We were impressed by their energy. They played good defense and had excellent control of the ball. They also had the support of the crowd,” said Lundqvist.

In the other opening matches, the United States and the Netherlands made their presence felt in the unique beach volley tournament played indoors – minus the sun and wind factors. Jennifer Snyder and Emily Jo Stockman of the US wore down Alezandra Mowen and Jordan Mowen of Australia A in a thrilling contest, 21-23, 21-13, 15-0,

Rosanna Van Der Hoeven and Gabrielle Ilke of the Netherlands scraped past Becchara Palmer and Sarah Battagiene of Australia B, 22-20, 21-17.

The Philippines Team A of Charo Soriano and Alexa Micek was to play Thailand’s Varapatsorn Radarong and Tanarattha Udomchavee in an evening match.

The tournament kicked off with a press conference the other day, and doing the ceremonial serve was PSC chairman Richie Garcia. He was joined by Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. vice president Peter Cayco, PSL head Ramon Suzara and Shakey’s V-League official Ricky Palou.

Also in the roster of competing teams are Japan, Spain, Poland, Brazil, Indonesia and New Zealand, made up of a pair that ruled the Fit to Hit beach volley tournament at the Mall of Asia last September.