Becaldo tames his UV players in all-Cebu final of BVR on Tour

Hail Cebu, Ato Ni Bai rules

SANTA FE, BANTAYAN ISLAND, Philippines — It’s home sweet home for Cebu’s bets.

Jade Becaldo and Calvin Sarte of Team Ato Ni Bai blasted Raphy Abanto and Kevin Juban of the University of the Visayas (UV) in the all-Cebu final to snare the men’s open crown of the Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) on Tour Season 3-Cebu leg at the Beach Placid Resort here yesterday.

Not even the windy atmosphere could hinder Becaldo and Sarte from blowing past Juban and Abanto in straight sets, 21-10, 21-15, to pocket the P40,000 grand prize.

Becaldo and Sarte punched a final ticket after ousting Simon Aguillon and Roelene Inaudito of Bacolod, 21-15, 24-22, while Juban and Abanto advanced after kicking out Jessie Lopez and Ranran Abdilla of Airforce in a three-set thriller, 21-16, 18-21, 15-13.

Interestingly, Becaldo currently serves as assistant coach for Juban and Abanto at the UV beach volley varsity team.

“I’m happy for all of them. They deserved it because they really prepared hard for this tournament,” said UV beach volley head coach Raffy Briones, who set foot in this paradise-like island yesterday just to witness his wards slug it out for the championship.

More that clinching top honors, though, the 27-year-old Becaldo said seeing his wards making it to the final round makes him proud and happy.

“I don’t care had we lost to my players. I’m already proud that they made it to the final. This has not happened before in BVR, a coach going up against his players in the championship,” said Becaldo, who powered UV to back-to-back national championships in the Nestea Beach Volley together with Mike Abria during their collegiate days in 2012 and 2013.

Knowing the caliber of his players, Becaldo said he was expecting a tough challenge from Juban and Abanto.

It was the other way around.

Becaldo and his Davaoeño partner Sarte needed only 11 minutes to thrash the UV tandem by 11 points in the opening set.

Becaldo and Sarte scored the first seven points of the match, then parlayed it to an insurmountable 18-7 lead that staggered Abanto and Juban the rest of the way.

“I was really surprised by the result because they practiced hard for this and as their coach, I know they’re a tough team to beat,” said Becaldo, who claimed the national title last year with his cousin Rommel Pepito by his side.   

Juban and Abanto did put up one big fight in the second set but the closest they could come was at 12-17 as Becaldo and Sarte again delivered powerful  attacks in perfect harmony to seal the deal, 21-15.

It was Becaldo and Sarte’s sixth title out of seven legs in the BVR on Tour this season. They are now headed for the national finals this April 19-21 in Dagupan City.

“Playing against our coach was like a normal training for us. We were not tensed, no pressure at all. We just wanted to have fun and enjoy the moment,” said Juban, who got P20,000 for their efforts.

Later in the day, Alexa Polidario and Erjane Magdato of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) 1 pounded Dzi Gervacio and Kassie Gornley of Team Wakanda, 21-10, 21-13, to reign supreme in the women’s division. (FREEMAN)