UV, USJ-R off to flying starts; SWU belles lose, USPF split matches in Nestea Beach Volley opener

BORACAY , Philippines   â€“ Defending men’s champion University of the Visayas (UV) and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) got off to a sizzling starts, while the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) split its opening assignments at the start of the 16th Nestea Beach Volley National Finals in this paradise island yesterday.

In men's action, UV’s Mike Abria and Jade Becaldo kick-started their title-retention bid with a 21-19, 21-16 smashing of the University of Mindanao (UM)-Tagum’s Gilbuena Haclaiah and Jefty Amora, while USJ-R's Jade Illut and Jason Uy, last year's losing runner-up, also made their presence felt after they smothered Calayan Educational Foundation, Inc.'s Jeorge Cartney Pantoja and Jomari Joshua Herrera, 21-11, 21-9.

Illut and Uy are seeking no less than winning the coveted championship this time after a failed try last year when the tandem got ambushed by eventual champions UV, 16-21, 19-21, in the final match.

USPF's Edmar Bonono and Edward Ybañez also stared their campaign on a bright note, pulling the rug from under Arellano University's John Carlo Lozada and Jophius Christian Banang, 21-19, 21-19. Their women counterparts, however, met contrasting fate after the hard-fighting tandem of Rochelle Rica and Apple Saraum fell prey to La Salle-Taft's Jeushl Wensh Tiu and Kim Fajardo, 21-14, 19-21, 15-5.

In the other men's play, UM-Tagum's Hachlaiah and Amora  opened their  bids with a bang after they waylaid Perpetual Help-Laguna's John Joven Javier and John Philip Nunez, 21-16, 21-18, while Holy Cross of Davao's Joel Villonson and Edmar Flores rallied to upset Adamson's John Hendrix Competente and Gilbert Longavela, 18-21, 21-19, 15-9.

In the women's action, two-time defending champion Central Philippines University's Jovelyn Gonzaga and  Fiola Mae Ceballos kicked off their three-peat bid with a 21-9, 21-9 demolition of La Salle-Dasmarinas' Iumi and Iari Yongco, 21-9, 21-9.

The tall, slender Gonzaga, a 21-year-old graduating education major seeking to join the Armed Forces after her studies, and Ceballos, an 18-year-old Tourism sophomore, totally dominated the comely Yongco sisters as the former punched their way through holes not just up front but also at the back.

"Beach volleyball is mostly 99 percent brains, it’s not all power," said Gonzaga, who won his first Nestea Beach title with a different partner two years ago before she teamed up with Ceballos to reign supreme in last year's competition.

Gonzaga further brightened up its grandslam chances after it tamed Southwestern University's Danika Yolanda Gendraulli and April Aguilar, 21-15, 21-18. Interestingly, SWU finished second and ahead of CPU in the combined Visayas-Mindanao qualifier a month back in Moalboal south of Cebu.

UM-Tagum's Lourdilyn Catubag and Karen Kay Quilario, who wound up second to the CPU duel in last year's edition, topped the stage and is seen by Gonzaga as the other team to watch out for. (FREEMAN)