Friday, March 30, 2007 SWU duo snares last slot for Nestea Boracay stage
SOUTHWESTERN University (SWU) dodged a possible ejection from the national semifinals of the Nestea Beach 2007 and secured the last berth to the Boracay final.
SWU advanced after a 21-6, 21-11 win over compatriot University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) in their do-or-die match yesterday at the La Salle Greenhills.
SWU is a three-time national champ and perennial finalist, and whether SWU could live up to that reputation all depended on Janelle Tabio and Maritess Natad.
Bad enough
Losing twice to the University of the Visayas (UV) was bad enough for Tabio and Natad that they had to give it their all against USPF to prevent getting ousted.
“Although there was less pressure on our part against USPF, we prepared for them after losing to UV. Our main concern that time was to reach the top three to advance to the Boracay final,” said Tabio.
With the win, USPF’s Ericka and Yvonne Verano bid the national title goodbye, while SWU joins University of San Jose-Recoletos and University of the Visayas to the next round.
“We need to double our efforts for the Boracay leg,” said Tabio.
Meanwhile, USJ-R’s Julette Marikit and Genie Sabas came out the top team in the Visayas elimination, passing through the eye of the needle before ousting UV’s Jusabelle Brillo and Janez Igot, 23-25, 21-29, 11-15.
Sand prowess
In the Men’s side, University of San Carlos coach Norvie Labuga’s prowess on the sand court is rubbing off on his wards, as Carlo Tecson and Roderick Arenasa came out the best men’s team in the Visayas, having defeated USPF’s Ronald Melencion and James Rivera.
The lone non-Cebuano team from the Visayas booking a ticket to Boracay is Foundation University’s Roland Agus and Arnel Madeo, who avoided early exit after dispatching University of St. La Salle, 21-19, 19-21, 15-9.
Qualifiers
The Visayas qualifiers join Luzon winners Far Eastern University, Lyceum and Adamson in the distaff side, and FEU, Philippine Christian University and St Francis in the men’s division.
The Mindanao eliminations on the other hand, will wrap up today. The regional qualifiers will go head to head against each other in the national semifinals in Boracay on April 19, where a hefty P150,000 is at stake. For the first time in the tournament’s 10 year-existence, P50,000 goes to the pockets of the team’s coach. (MCB)
