Gervacio-Tan, Abdilla-Lopez pairs finally win gold in BVR

MANILA, Philippines – Banko-Perlas 1's Dzi Gervacio and Bea Tan pulled off a dominant 21-8, 21-18 victory over National University-Boysen's Roma Doromal and Kly Orillaneda to claim the women's championship of the Beach Volleyball Republic On Tour December Open 2018: A Christmas Rally late Sunday at the Sands SM By The Bay. 

Air Force finally captured a men's title, as Ranran Abdilla and Jessie Lopez bested Cignal's Fauzi Ismail and Edmar Bonono, 21-17, 21-18.

The spotlight also went to phenoms Alyssa Valdez and Kiefer Ravena, who came from behind to defeat beach volleyball poster girl Charo Soriano and fan favorite John Vic de Guzman, 23-21, in the highly entertaining celebrity match whose proceeds will go to Mindanao State University-Marawi College of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation Academy.

"It’s been an honor being able to play the game that we love and at the same time being able to help our young brothers and sisters in Marawi. With the help of all those who supported, the CSPEAR Sports Academy of MSU-Marawi will be able to teach more and more kids so that these children’s lives will be filled with laughter instead of anger, love instead of hate, and hope instead of fear. That, for me, is the true value of sport," said Soriano.     

Team Idol, composed of Philippine beach volleyball legends Rhovyl Verayo, Jasper Jimenez, Jun Gallo and guest player Mike Shavrak hurdled Team Lodi's Ravena, De Guzman, Sue Roces and Philip Bagalay, 21-17, in another exhibition match to spice up the final day of competitions. 

Undefeated in five matches, Gervacio and Tan ended the Cinderella run of Doromal and Orillaneda, who needed two do-or-die matches to make it to the Finals.

University of Santo Tomas-Maynilad's Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor rallied from a set down to beat Creamline's Fille Cayetano and Kyla Atienza, Creamline, 17-21, 21-12, 15-8, to bag third place, duplicating their achievement in Dumaguete City last month. 

Tiger Winx's KR Guzman and Krung Arbasto outlasted UST-Maynilad's Rancel Varga and Efraim Dimaculangan, 21-14, 21-12, UST-Maynilad, 21-17, 19-21, 15-11, to clinch the bronze medal.