Capitol duo thwarts powerhouse teams

BORACAY – Capitol University is turning out to be new toast of the 10th Nestea Beach Volley Championship.

Behind the steady, sturdy pair of Orpheus Cubillas and Jose Carlos Cagadas, the three-year-old university in Cagayan de Oro yesterday continued to stun the opposition here.

Cubillas and Cagadas, long-time partners in indoor volleyball, downed two heavyweights as the 24-team national leg of the sizzling summer event got going at the Hey Jude sandcourt.

The pair that made a lot of heads turn during the elimination round last March defeated 1999 men’s champion FEU, 25-19, before pulling down fancied University of Negros Occ. Recoletos, 25-22.

With their 2-0 record, the two 24-year-olds from Cagayan de Oro are now assured of a slot in the quarterfinals. Hopefully, they should go even farther as they take a shot at the title and the P100,000 champion’s purse. The finals is set tomorrow.

"We didn’t expect to go this far because we’re newcomers in beach volleyball. At first, we felt that we should be happy just to get here in Boracay. But now we’re really going for it," said Cagadas in Filipino.

Since their impressive performance last March at La Salle Greenhills, Cagadas said their university has started to gain more recognition. It has also moved up the beach volley rankings in Mindanao–from No. 4 to No. 2.

"Because of this event, more people are starting to recognize and notice our university. And we’re now number two in Mindanao only behind Tawi-Tawi," said Cagadas, a 5-foot-8 lefty.

For three days, this island paradise will be home to the country’s finest beach volley talents. At stake are P100,000 each to the men’s and women’s champion and P50,000 worth of sports equipment to the schools they represent.

While Capitol U grabbed the limelight, reigning champion St. Benilde quietly hurdled its opening match against Ateneo de Davao, 25-13. St. Benilde’s Janley Patrona and Pio de Castro remain a force to reckon with this year.

Other opening-day winners in the men’s division were Adamson over Mindanao State U, 25-19, St. Francis over University of Mindanao Davao, 25-13, two-time champion University of San Jose Recoletos over Mindanao State U, 32-30, 2001 winner Foundation U over UMD, 25-16, and San Carlos over Ateneo de Davao, 25-15.

In the women’s side, getting off to a good start were MSU over University of Baguio, 25-21, 2002 champion Adamson over UMD, 25-20, Letran over Holy Cross de Davao College, 25-20, and University of Mindanao Tagum over St. Benilde, 25-21.

The women’s crown is a toss-up following the early exit of defending champion Southwestern U during last month’s 72-team elimination round at La Salle Greenhills. Southwestern is the women’s champion over the last three years.

The tournament is sponsored by Speedo, MTV, Power Shot, Hey Jude, Mikasa, Cebu Pacific, Seventeen, D-Mall, Villa de Oro, Club Ten, Schering-Plough Coppertone, Crystal Sand Resort, ClicktheCity.com, Boracay Gold Crowne Club, Bantay Kalikasan ABS-CBN Foundation, Nautilus by PJ Aranador and La Salle Greenhills.