Cards fancied, post two wins in Nestea tilt

BORACAY, Philippines – Mapua served notice of its title aspirations in the 19th Nestea Beach Volleyball Tournament yesterday, grabbing a pair of opening-day victories spiked by a two-set disposal of defending men’s champion University of Southern Philippines Foundation.

Philip Bagalay and Paul John Cuzon, the reigning NCAA beach volley kings, bucked a slow start before beating University of San Jose Recoletos pair Alestair Ian Gairanod and Kent Jay Verbosidad in an early morning Round 1 encounter, 13-21, 23-21, 15-8, to set off an explosive day.

Returning to the sandcourt a few hours later, the Cardinals sustained the hot form and clobbered the top-seeded USPF pair of Jon Derrick Reyes and Left Jhon Tormis in round two, 21-14, 21-15.

The three-peat-seeking Panthers, who were seeded into the second round, dropped to the losers’ bracket in the modified double-elimination format event, facing a must-win situation in their succeeding outings.

Meanwhile,  UST Tigresses Cherry Rondina and Jem Nicole Gutierrez defeated University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos’ Erjane Magdato and Alexa Polidario in three, 24-26, 21-8, 15-9, to start their title-retention campaign on a winning note.

“Medyo nanibago kami sa sandcourt nung umpisa against USJR pero nakapag-adjust din nung second and third sets (We initially had difficulty adjusting to the sand in the opening game against USJR but we’re able to adjust in the second and third sets),” said Bagalay.

“Against USPF, fully adjusted na kami (we were fully adjusted by then). Then ganito lang ang approach namin – just enjoy the game while playing, work hard and show heart,” he added.

Holy Cross Davao’s Calvin Sarte and Brendon John Wariza also moved into the third round of the winners’ bracket after turning back Colegio San Agustin, 21-17, 21-19, and Lyceum Batangas, 21-15, 21-9.

The No. 3 seeded Kris Roy Guzman and Anthony Arbasto of University of Santo Tomas played true to form in Round 2 and walloped Mindanao State U Tawi-tawi’s Al-Shahid Tungkuh and Daud Sali, 21-10, 21-13.

In other women’s games, Adamson’s Jemma Galanza and Mylene Paat beat University of St. La Salle’s Rosel Anne Sy and Shaira Marie Lim, 21-13, 21-14; San Beda’s Nieza and Jezelia Viray prevailed over Perpetual Laguna’s Abegail Nuval and Elaine Kasilag, 21-19, 21-9, and University of Mindanao Tagum’s Dannah Angela Queisado and Mary Kris Asena beating University of Baguio’s Cherry and Mary Ann Atuban, 21-6, 21-9.