Cobras storm to Nestea semifinals

BORACAY, Philippines – Southwestern U rallied past University of Santo Tomas, 18-21, 22-20, 15-9, to grab a semifinals seat in the men’s division of the 19th Nestea Beach Volleyball Tournament that became a free-for-all with the ouster of holder University of Southern Philippines Foundation yesterday.

After conceding the opening set, SWU Cobras Rommel Pepito and Alden Dave Cabaron turned up the heat and held off Tigers Kris Roy Guzman and Anthony Lemuel Arbasto to complete their march into the medal rounds.

Holy Cross of Davao College’s Calvin Sarte and Brendon John Wariza also toppled a rival from Metro Manila, clinching a Last-4 ticket at the expense of NCAA titlist Philip Michael Bagalay and Paul John Cuzon of Mapua, 21-13, 24-22.

UST and Mapua were relegated to the losers’ side of the modified double-elimination format tourney but could still make it to the semis with a victory in their next outings.

With Pepito doing damage with his kills and the Tigers committing some costly errors, SWU raced to a 10-5 lead in the decider and never looked back.

“Nahirapan kami kasi matangkad ang UST at marunong maglaro sa buhangin (UST’s height and skills on the sand gave us trouble in the first set),” said Pepito, whose team-up with Cabaron gave SWU the Cesafi title this season.

“Lakas lang ng loob, at hindi kami nagpatalo (We just hung on and played to win),” he added.

The men’s crown is up for grabs as three-peat-seeking Jon Derick Reyes and Left Jhon Tormis of USPF fell to Colegio San Agustin’s Marvin Haresco and John Alexis Bedion in the losers’ bracket , 19-21, 16-21, to bomb out.

SWU’s female counterparts, Floremel Rodriguez and Therese Rae Ramas, remained in contention in the distaff side.

Rodriguez and Ramas stormed to their second straight win at the expense of Adamson Thursday, 21-19, 21-17, to move one victory shy of the semis.

University of Mindanao-Tagum’s Dannah Angela Quisado and Mary Cris Asena continued their fiery showing, beating San Sebastian’s Gretchel Soltones and Alyssa Eroa, 21-19, 21-16, for win No. 2.

The Lady Cobras and the UMT belles were disputing a semis berth at presstime.

Meanwhile, Team Plunge’s Rachel Daquis, Aby Marano, Jovelyn Gonzaga and Melissa Gohing prevailed over Team Chillax’s Cha Cruz, Michele Gumabao, Ella de Jesus, and Bang Pineda in the first day of the Nestea Fantasy Match, 21-17, 21-16.