PSL beach volleyball: Foton advances to playoffs at expense of Smart

Smart’s Celia Bangad saves the ball as teammate Caitlin Viray waits for action during their game against the Foton pair of twins Nieza and Jeziela Viray yesterday in the the 2018 Philippine Super Liga (PSL) Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup at Sands by the Bay.

Foton’s twin partnership booked its quarterfinals ticket after taking down Smart in straight sets, 21-10, 21-17, in the Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup Thursday at SM Sands by the Bay.

Twins Ella and Nieza Viray, who are competing in the PSL beach volleyball tournament for the first time, outwitted Cecila Bangad and Caitlyn Viray as they won tallied their second win in as many matches.

Ella, who won the NCAA beach volleyball title with twin sister Nieza, said they had to adjust in their first game against Cignal B’s Jannine Navarro and Cherry May Vivas but that was all they needed to do to get comfortable in the PSL’s sand event.

“We struggled at first, we had trouble jumping and playing in the sands,” said Ella. “But after we made some adjustments, things became easier.”

The Viray twins will face the winner between Generika-Ayala A’s Patty Orendain and Fiola Ceballos and Cocolife A’s Danika Gendrauli and Nene Bautista in the quarterfinals.

“We will do our best, we will play hard, and we will enjoy the match like we did against Smart,” said Ella.

Also taking a victory in the second day of the tournament is the F2 Logistics partnership of Michelle Morente and Fritz Gallenero after its 21-16, 21-11 dismantling of Cocolife B’s Maege Tejada and Alex Tan.

In the men’s side of the tournament, Bryan Bagunas and James Natividad of Sands by the Bay outmuscled Cocolife’s Joshua Ylaya and JP Pareja, 21-10, 21-13, to sweep Pool A and advance to the semifinals.

Cignal’s Mike Abria and Jessie Lopez also booked their place in the semifinals after tackling down Smart’s Philip Bagalay and Gregory Utopia, 21-14, 21-16.