Pepito tops Day 1

ROMMEL Pepito topped the elimination round of the 1st Sinulog Beach Volleyball Cup, which is the debut tournament in the newly-installed sand court at the back of the Fort San Pedro yesterday.

Pepito topped the group with 20.3 average points out of nine games, out of 15 players. Mike Abria came in second with 19.5 followed by close third Alfred Daos in 19.4.

Fourth seed goes to Joerem Yu, while fifth went to Edward Ybañez. Both had 19 points.

Iloilo's Kenneth Clark Suizo made it in sixth place with 18.9. Veteran and former RP team member Jonrey Sasing qualified in seventh place with 18.89, only a hairline separating him from eighth placer Jason Gabales with 18.88.

The eighth slot was a close call between Gabales (18.88) and Tormis (18.5).

The Top 8 will play today to determine the winner in the inagural king of the beach format tournament in Cebu.

Organizer Eric Lecain of the Philippine Sports Commission was happy with the turnout of 15 players who were a combination of experienced and newbie players.

Sasing and Gabeles had been carrying the name of Cebu in national tournaments and even beaten the national team in two occasions.

This season, players get to play newbies in the pool like Tormis, Rizol, Noval Guzam and Sedurifa.

Lecain is thrilled with the tournament format because of its unpredictability. In regular tournaments, winners are already expected. With this format, players compete individually.

"The smartest guy in the court gets to win this tournament. It's not about who is the best setter or server. It is about who has the best ability to play in all situations," said Lecain.

In regular tournaments, there is always the domination of strong players teaming up unlike in this setup where they get to play with different team mates per game.