Tuesday, April 08, 2008 Nestea beach volley starts today
AS MUCH as the Cebuano women’s team rivalry is expected to heat up in the regional eliminations of the Nestea Beach Volleyball Competition that starts today at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City, the men’s division matches is equally anticipated.
University of San Jose-Recoletos men’s team of Louiegie Tipgos and Ariel Carumba have a heavy burden on their shoulders as they are expected to revive USJ-R’s lost glory in beach volleyball.
Adding to the pressure is the presence of their interim coach Michael Simbajon, who will be calling the shots from the sideline. Simbajon is the 2004 Nestea Beach Volley national champion, when he played side by side Jonrey Sasing.
“We have been very dedicated in our preparation for this competition and I hope that we are ready,” said Simbajon.
Simbajon said that while he expects a challenge from the other schools, their preparations are more on how to outclass USP-F, where his partner Sasing will be playing with James Rivera.
“They are more experienced compared to my team, who are virtually new to this,” Simbajon said.
Semis
Apart from Sasing’s winning exploits, Rivera has his share of exposures and one of this is being a semifinalists in last year’s edition, when he was still paired with Roland Melencion.
A total of six Cebuano teams from four schools are all geared up to stamp their class in the the elimination.
Four of the 12 schools gunning for slots to the Boracay semifinal and final leg come from Cebu and all of them came prepared.
Apart from the USJ-R and USPF, the other Cebu teams competing in the three-day competition are defending women’s champion University of the Visayas, which will also be fielding in a men’s team, 2007 women’s runner up Southwestern University and the women’s team of USPF.
They will be going up against Visayas team Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, Foundation University, Iloilo Doctors College, University of Iloilo, University of Negros-Occidental-Recoletos, University of St. La Salle-Bacolod and University of San Agustin.
Only six teams from the Visayas will advance to Boracay.
Defense
In the women’s class, UV’s Janez Armie Igot and Jusabelle Brillo have their eyes directed towards defending the title and are ready to annihilate any team that comes their way.
Although they are the defending champions, the duo wants to maintain the bearing of being the top players of the beach volleyball scene.
Their strategy: Endurance.
“We have been working hard on our endurance and I know we are ready,” said head coach Raffy Briones.
Briones added that the ladies and his men’s team, Jose Marie Ecobanez and Jade Becaldo, have been jogging by the shore almost everyday to acclimate themselves of running around the playing venue.
Their way towards this goal will however be spiked with a lot of difficulties and one of this is the SWU duo of Janelle Tabio and Florianne Gutierrez, who have always been a thorn in UV’s throats.
Roster
The Mindanao and Luzon qualifiers were already known after their respective eliminations. Qualifying for Mindanao are the men’s teams of Capitol University, University of Mindanao-Tagum and Holy Cross of Davao College in the men’s team and the University of Mindanao-Tagum, Holy Cross of Davao College and University of Mindanao-Davao for the women’s division.
Qualifying for Luzon are Far Eastern University, Philippine Christian University and University of Perpetual Help-Dalta, nailing the three Boracay slots in the men’s division, and Adamson University, Far Eastern University and Lyceum of the Philippines advancing in the women’s side.
In Boracay, the nine teams from each division will fight for the P150,000 top purse. saSecond placers get P75,000 each and third placers receive P40,000 each.
Supporting the event are Havaianas, Speedo, Mikasa, Penshoppe, Tagum Beach Volley Drome at Rotary Park, University of St. La Salle Bacolod, Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park, Crystal Sand Beach Resort, Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel, D’Mall, D’Boracay and Hey! Jude Resort are this year’s sponsors. (MCB)
