Negrenses soar proudly in volleyball’s return

Alexa Polidario and Erjane Magdato of Abanse Negrense A kicked up quite the sandstorm in ruling the Philippine Superliga (PSL) Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup at Subic Sands Court inside Subic Bay Freeport on Sunday.

It wasn’t quite the surprise considering that’s what the pair set out to do in the first place.

“We really wanted the championship that’s why we went here,” Polidario said. “We’re happy and we feel blessed for winning the title even if we were just first-timers in the PSL. I hope we made the whole Negros proud.”

How could Negrenses not be?

Polidario drove home the key points in the finals to beat DM Demontano and Jackie Estoquia, 21-15, 21-17, and claim the first volleyball crown staked since the sport, along with others, was forced into a hiatus by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Negros duo also lined itself up with some very impressive “pandemic champion teams,” among them PBA kings Barangay Ginebra, Philippines Football League ruler United City and Chooks-to-go 3×3 basketball titlists Zamboanga City. Golf’s Tony Lascuna, Ira Alido, Princess Superal and Pauline del Rosario were among the individual champions as local sports started crawling out of the pandemic’s chokehold starting late last year.

“This win is such a huge blessing for us, especially for our province. This is a testament that the Negrenses are talented in volleyball as well,” Magdato said.

Despite having no serious training due to pandemic, Polidario and Magdato swept the pool play before sending Javen Sabas and Jonah San Pedro of Toby’s Sports packing in the quarterfinals.

They clashed with the seasoned pair of Bang Pineda and Jonah Sabete of Sta. Lucia B in the semifinals, but were hardly threatened as they pulled off a 21-18, 21-12 win to punch a ticket to the finals.