INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- University of Mindanao-Tagum’s veteran tandem of Raquelito Tayabas and Lowell Fabian pulled off an upset right on opening day, stamping its class and experience on defending champion Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, 21-13, 21-18, Tuesday in the Nestea Beach Volleyball Mindanao eliminations here.

Tayabas and Fabian have been playing together for years now while it is the first tournament of MSU-T brothers Yusop and Momoy Abdulkarim.

“Tsamba lang (We were just lucky),” said Tayabas, a 22-year-old Criminology student. “Bago lang kasi sila. Alam ko makakabalik pa sila (They’re a new team. I know they can come back).”

Momoy, 18, took over the slot of now-MSU coach Gabshar Tahilludin who has gone over the tournament’s 26-year-old age limit.

Yusop and Tahiluddin combined last year to beat the Far Eastern University pair of Joshua Alcarde and Jeremy Floyd Pedregosa, 23-21, 15-21, 17-15, in the Boracay national finals.

Tuesday’s 36-minute match saw UMT pulling away in the first set from a 14-10 lead while outscoring last year’s regional champion, 7-5, in the homestretch to join Agusan Institute of Technology and Davao Marine Merchant Academy at the top of men’s play at 2-0.

“Kulang pa s’ya sa (He still lacks) training,” said Yusop, referring to his younger brother who is taking up Hotel and Restaurant Management. “But we still have a chance.”

The UMT pair also beat UM-Davao, 21-15, 21-15, in the day’s first match.

Agusan Institute recorded wins over MSU-Main, 21-12, 21-12, and against Maharlika Institute of Technology, 21-10, 21-10.

Davao Marine Merchant’s won at the expense of Xavier University, 21-15, 21-23, 15-8, and last year’s Mindanao runner-up Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College, 21-10, 21-15.

Capitol University of Cagayan de Oro survived Holy Cross of Davao, 17-21, 21-19, 15-8, in a rain-marred match for its first win.

In women’s matches, Xavier downed MSU-M, 21-18, 23-21, while first-time participant Jose Maria College beat CU, 21-16, 21-8.

The top three teams in both divisions will qualify to the Boracay finals set April 24 to 26.