SWU scores upset

SOUTHWESTERN University’s (SWU) Romel Pepito and Relan Taneo thought they’d be just glorified tourists after the first round as they were pitted against top bets in the 16th Nestea Beach Volleyball Visayas-Mindanao eliminations in Moalboal.

They were wrong.

SWU first edged out University of Negros Occidental Recoletos’s (UNOR) Ralph John Consemino and Macky Soliva,21-11,21-13 then denied reigning Visayas leg champion Roelene Inaudito and Jonmar Aguilon of University of Saint La Salle School (USLS) a chance to defend their title with another upset, 21-17,21-16.

“When we learned that we will be up against seasoned players, especially USLS, we got worried and felt intimidated. This is our first tournament and gisugat dayun mi og mga strong teams but wala mi nagpadala sa kulba and we told ourselves that we will just play our game and we did,” said Taneo, who is from Liloan.

The two are some of new faces in the tournament but they are not lightweights as they won the Cebu Schools Athletics Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) title last year.

“Tomorrow, our team will be up against Mike Abria and Jade Becaldo of the University of the Visayas (UV). They are really strong and we aim to win but if not, we hope to reach a deciding set so that we can have a chance to secure one of the top six spots for the national finals via points system,” SWU head coach Lemuel Arreza.

UV, the reigning national men’s champion, started strong and beat John Michael Ylanan and Kevenrick Ausin of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) B, 21-13, 21-18, University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), 21-13, 21-18.

The other Cebuano team that made the second round is Jason Uy and Jade Illut of University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR). The two beat Kenneth Bensig and Alfred Clyde Flores of the University of San Carlos, 21-11, 18-21 and 15-6.

In the women’s division, reigning champion Jovelyn Gonzaga and Fiola Ceballos of Central Philippines University (CPU) started its bid for a grand slam on a strong note and routed Iligan Medical Center College’s Sarah Jane Ridad and Suzette Migallos, 21-8,21-8.

Danika Gendrauli and Raphril Aguilar of SWU also won in straight sets against USPF B Neslie Aloyan and Regine Hermosa, while USC B’s Anna Krist Capinpin and Exel Ignacio pummeled USJR’s Beatrice Gomez and Irene Sasil, 21-11,21-17.

USC A’s Nina Irish Cortez and Christy Sucalit lost to University of Mindanao Tagum, 21-11,21-12, and USPF A of Apple Saraum and Rochelle Rica beat Bohol Institute of Technology-International College’s Mary Ann Litub and Analie Canete, 21-17, 18-21, 15-9.