Cebu’s UV, USPF tossers gain Nestea Beach semis

BORACAY—Defending men’s champion University of the Visayas and fellow Cebu-based squad University of Southern Philippines Foundation clinched the first two semifinal seats yesterday after nailing second straight victories in the 17th Nestea Beach Volleyball national championship here.

In women’s play, Southwestern University and reigning UAAP champion Adamson zoomed to their third wins to also reach the Final Four.

UV’s Jade Becaldo and Mark Anthony Fernandez dealt SWU’s Romel Pepito and Relan Taneo their first loss in three games, 19-21, 21-19, 15-10, to move closer to a third straight title.

Edward Ybanez and Edmar Bonono of USPF then overpowered Mindanao State University-Tawi Tawi’s Aga Tahiluddin and Nur Amin Madsairi, 21-15, 21-14, to join UV in the semifinals.

Rookies Floremel Rodriguez and Therese Ramas of SWU continued their rise with a 21-15, 21-11 triumph over University of St. La Salle’s Katya Grabato and Patty Orendain while crowd favorites Shiela Pineda and Amanda Villanueva of Adamson overcame the tough University of Mindanao-Tagum pair of Danna Quisado and Mary Cris Asena, 21-18, 25-23.

Adamson was one point away from the semifinals at 20-16 when UMT clawed back to pull in front, 22-21, after Villanueva’s service landed out of bounds.

But the UAAP titlists proved steadier and repeatedly attacked the net, yielding just one point to UMT while scoring four off kills.

“UMT was a very tough opponent and for a while, we thought we were going to a third set,” said Villanueva, the UAAP MVP. “But our defense worked.”

In the losers’ bracket starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, UMT will battle MSU and St. Benilde will take on SWU for the remaining men’s semifinal seats.

Two more women’s matches were being played at press time—De La Salle versus Jose Maria College of Davao and Central Philippine University against University of Santo Tomas to determine the other semifinalists.