UM-Tagum stuns FEU spikers

BORACAY, Philippines - Lowell Fabian and Raquelito Tayabas of the University of Mindanao (UM) Tagum showcased a variety of shots to crush highly favored Edjet Mabbayad and Jerry Mabutol of Far Eastern University (FEU) at the start of the 2008 Nestea Beach Volleyball finals before a huge crowd gathered in this summer hideaway and famous destination. The Fabian and Tayabas pair baffled their rivals with a mixture of soft touches and powerful spikes en route to a 21-11, 23-21 victory in the men's division over the FEU tandem which, just a couple of weeks back, topped the Luzon leg of the qualifying phase. The stunning win gave UM-Tagum a good start in the three-day competition, but coach Benneth Jayectin confessed his boys must play at a higher level in their next match if they hope to go all to the way to the finals. "The boys played well, but they must play a little bit harder in the next game. They (Mabbayad and Mabutol) had several errors which contributed to their defeat," Jayectin said. The 23-year-old Fabian, who is taking up Hotel and Restaurant Management at UM-Tagum, was simply outstanding in the first day of action, his terrific kills sending the pro-FEC crowd in total silence all throughout the match. "I read my opponents' moves. I read their defense, that's the key," Fabian said in the vernacular. Fabian and Tayabas are seen as the best Mindanao bet here. The duo placed second behind Capitol University of Cagayan de Oro in the Mindanao leg, but only because they forfeited the finals match as Tayabas was nursing a high fever after the semifinals. This is Fabian and Tayabas's third trip to Boracay. They placed eighth in 2005 and ended up ninth in 2006. The University of Mindanao-Davao pair of Janice Arnaiz and Maricel Cabus also got off to a blazing start here, overpowering a hapless Lyceum of the Philippines duo of Dahlia Cruz and Syvie Gay Artales, 21-13, 219, in women's action. The University of Perpetual Help-Dalta, represented by Aristain Sartin and Marcelo Joaquin Jr., chalked up two straight wins over a pair of Mindanao bets in the men's division. Sartin and Joaquin first brought down Allen Jay Sales and Celboy Atendido of the Holy Cross of Davao College in an early morning match, then came back later to demolish Capitol's Kevin Escobal and John Michael Vivares. Also winning Thursday was the pair of University of Southern Philippines Foundation's James Ryan Rivera and Jonrey Sasing, who were pushed to the limit before scoring a hard-earned 21-19, 12-21, 15-13 triumph over the pair of Emmanuel Marlon Luces and Mark Sabusap of the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod. The Holy Cross of Davao College tandem of Mykah Ramos and Aiza Armacion was still playing against FEU's Wendy Ann Semana and Shaira Gonzalez, as of presstime. - Sun.Star Davao