Visayas teams dominate Boracay beach volley finals

MANILA, Philippines – The Visayan party pushed through in the 13th Nestea Fit Beach Volley tournament. University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) defeated Adamson University, 21-17, 23-21, to win the women's crown and ensure an all-Visayan domination in the national finals of the yearly tournament. In the men's side, University of San Jose-Recoletos dislodged last year's champion Foundation University, 21-14, 22-12, in a battle of two Visayan teams for the title. "Parang kinapos ang mga bata, kulang talaga sa practice. Napagod dahil napakainit din," said Adamson coach Minerva Dulce Pante, whose wards pocketed P65,000 for their second place finish. Erika Camille Verano, who teamed up with Apple Saraum, in ensuring USPF's first national title in the tournament said that they did not expect to win because this is their first tournament of their new partnership. "Masaya kasi hindi namin expected na mananalo kami," explained Verano after winning the P100,000 cash prize. Meanwhile, USJR coach Grace Antigua, also a former national player, said their tactic of playing far from the net worked well and gave them the advantage against the power playing Foundation University. "This victory shows that beach volleyball is not all power. Sometimes you have to use a different tactic to win games just like what we did today," Antigua, a Cebu Hall of Famer, said. Ariel Carumba, who together with Loujei Tipgos gave USJR its third national title, added that they focused on trying to make their opponents run and go for the kill when given the opportunity. "Pinatakbo namin talaga sila, dahil alam namin na kinakapos sila sa hininga," said Carumba, who added that he will initially deposit in a bank his part of the P100,000 top cash prize. The tactic worked well as USJR easily took the first set then rallied in the second to complete their title run. Even when Foundation took a brief 13-11 lead, Carumba and Tipgos did not gave up and rallied to erase the deficit en route to overthrowing 2008 champions Foundation, which pocketed P65,000. The last time two Visayan teams swept the national titles was in 2004 when USJR won the men's crown and Southwestern University bagged the women's title Meanwhile, Univesity of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, a 21-17, 29-27 loser to USPF in the semifinals, salvaged a third place finish in women's play when it dominated University of San Agustin, 21-12, 21-17. USA bowed to Adamson, 21-17, 21-18 in the other semis match. In the men's competition, University of the Visayas, which suffered a 21-17, 29-27 loss to USJR in Final Four, posted a podium finish after beating Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, 19-21, 21-14, 25-11 in the battle for third spot. MSU-T was relegated to the consolation match when it suffered a 19-21, 21-14, 15-11, defeat against Foundation, 21-15, 22-21. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV