Thursday, March 06, 2008 MSU spikers stay alive By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
TAGUM CITY -- Never underestimate the heart of a champion.
The Mindanao State University (MSU)-Tawi-Tawi, its title-retention bid put in jeopardy after a stunning opening-day defeat, bounced back with two victories in the men's division Wednesday to stay alive in the 2008 Nestea Beach Volleyball at the Rotary Park's Beach Volleydrome here.
Represented by power playing brothers Yusop and Momoy Abdulkarim, MSU-Tawi-Tawi dug deep from its bag of tricks to outlast a fighting Xavier University of Cagayan de Oro in the morning match, 21-14, 21-23, 15-10.
The Abdulkarin brothers then followed that up with a 21-12, 21-17 win over the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) pair of Spar John Cosme Jr. and Bernabe Fernandez Jr. in the afternoon, 21-12, 21-17.
MSU-Tawi-Tawi, big winners in the 2007 national finals in Boracay, went down to the University of Mindanao (UM)-Tagum Tuesday and needed to win their next assignments to avoid an early exit in the double elimination format.
MSU-Tawi-Tawi started hot against Xavier U and immediately took the first frame at 21-14, but Xavier fought back and captured the next set to force a decider.
In the third frame, the experience of the Abdulkarim brothers proved fatal to the Xavier U pair and MSU-Tawi-Tawi went on to win the match.
Against AdDU, Momoy Abdulkarim was unstoppable, slamming home jump serves and powerful spikes that comply baffled Cosme and Fernandez.
UM-Tagum's Raquelito Tayabas and Lowell Fabian, meanwhile, chalked up another victory, this time at the expense of Orpheus Cubillas and Eduardo Gonzales of the Agusan Institute of Technology, 21-17, 21-13.
In the distaff side, the Ateneo pair of Ma. Lualhati Pinili and Jane Varquez downed Xavier's Michelle Bunjan and Fe Allene Bolinquit, 21-14, 21-6.
On opening day, Agusan Institute of Technology scored twin wins to join UM-Tagum in the winner's circle.
Kirk Buduan and Alhaquim Camamara of the Davao Merchant Marine Academy College of Southern Philippines (DMMA-CSP) also made its presence felt via a 21-15, 21-23, 15-8 win over Xavier U's Michael Crisostomo and Ryan Abut.
Holy Cross of Davao College duo of Allen Sales and Celboy Atendido also trounced Ateneo de Davao University's Spar Cosme Jr. and Bernabe Fernandez Jr., 21-11, 22-24, 15-9.
Tagum City Volleyball Association president Maria Vilma Manulat, Tagum City Mayor and councilor Rey and Oyo Uy, Nestle VP for marketing, promotions and events Joey Quimbo and Nestle cluster head for beverages Carlos Vergara led the opening ceremony Tuesday.
The top three teams in the three-day elims earn semifinal trips to Boracay on April 24 to 26.
The tournament is sponsored by Havaianas, Speedo, Mikasa, Penshoppe, Tagum Beach Volley Drome 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 Hotel Resort.
