SBC’s Virays stun NCAA beach volley champs

MANILA, Philippines – Twins Maria Jeziela and Maria Nieza Viray of San Beda upended defending champions Gretchel Soltones and Dangie Encarnacion, 10-21, 22-20, 15-13, yesterday to remain the only unbeaten team in the women’s division of the 91st NCAA beach volleyball tournament at the Boardwalk in Subic.

It was the fourth straight win by the Virays, both rookies out of Lingayen, Pangasinan. They repulsed Perpetual Help, 15-21, 21-26, 15-9, Lyceum of the Philippines U, 21-12, 21-14, and Emilio College, 21-11, 21-17, to surge ahead.

They then sustained their amazing run by turning back Soltones and Encarnacion, who topped last year’s edition of this event backed by The Lighthouse, Bayfront Hotel, Subic Park Hotel, Moonbay Villas, LGR, Mikasa, SBMA and ABS-CBN Sports and Action.

“We just didn’t pressure ourselves that much even though we know we’re playing the two-time champions,” said Jeziela, who has partnered with Nieza to win the first Batang Pinoy beach volley champion in Marikina City two years ago.

Even Soltones, a back-to-back NCAA MVP in indoor volleyball, was impressed.

“They’re really good,” said Soltones, whose team is still in title contention with a 3-1 (win-loss) record after smashing Letran, 21-9, 21-8, and Mapua, 21-13, 21-19.

In men’s action, Mapua’s Samuel Joseph Almalel and Philip Michael Bagalay grabbed the solo lead after nailing two wins in Day Two over Jose Rizal, 21-13, 21-10, and Arellano U, 21-19, 21-12.

Perpetual‘s pair Al-john Abalon and Gian Carlo Numbrera and EAC’s tandem of Cee-jay Hicap and Ederson Rebusora shared the leaderboard in the juniors division with identical 3-0 win-loss record.