Locals bow out in Smart AVC Beach Tour

MANILA, Philippines — Jen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda gave Australia’s Tara Phillips and Elizabeth Alchin a scare before bowing, 16-21, 15-21, yesterday in the round of 16 of the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open.

The two lady spikers from the Air Force went toe-to-toe with the powerful Australians at the Nuvali Sand Courts by Ayala Land in the City of Santa Rosa, fighting until the last second of the 37-minute match under a searing midday sun.

Both 24, Eslapor and Orillaneda teamed up only this year and said they simply focused on their game against the more experienced Australians.

“We entered this tournament with no expectations and are quite pleased with the result,” Eslapor said while looking forward to the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour-Futures on Thursday also at Nuvali.

Iran’s Abdolhamed Mirzaali and Abolhassan Khakizadeh also overcame a scare from the Philippines’ Ran Abdilla and AJ Pareja, 20-22, 15-21, to advance to the men’s quarterfinals of the event backed by Foton, Akari, Mikasa, Senoh, Seda, Asics, Cignal, One Sports, One Sports+ and Pilipinas Live.

The Pinoys came close to taking the first set.