CEBU CITY -- Calvin Sarte and Jan Ashley Jacob of Davao City bounced back from a first set loss to beat Mandaluyong City pair, 19-21, 21-18, 15-6 in the Philippine National Games (PNG) men's beach volleyball finals at the Fort San Pedro here yesterday.
Sarte, an 8th BIMP-Eaga Friendship Games 2014 gold medalist, said: "Kalma lang mi maski pildi mi sa first set, ang init makausab jud sa dula. Sige nalang mi istorya. Ginarelaks lang nako si Jan kay pirting inita jud (We were just calm after losing the first set although the heat was too much to bear. We talked to each other)."
Jacob, a 9th BIMP-Eaga Friendship Games 2016 bronze medalist, said they had to make adjustments due to the intense heat and that he was glad they recovered in the second set to equalize and force a sudden death.
But the Dabawenyo pair, who only teamed up for the first time and only practiced for two days together, could only heave a sigh of relief after scoring the final point of the decider.
"Happy kaayo ko. Na-pressure ko kay beterano man sya unya ako tagsa ra makadula og beach volleyball. Syempre maningkamot jud ko (I felt the pressure since my partner is a veteran and I rarely play beach volleyball)," Jacob said in an interview with Sun.Star Davao via Facebook live.
The Dabawenyos will collide with Cebu Province for the gold at 8 a.m.. The latter earned a finals berth after whipping Pagadian City, 21-12, 21-15 in the other men's semis match.
In the distaff side, Davao del Norte's Karen Kay Quilario and Lourdilyn Catubag, both Police Officers I of Panabo Police Station and Talaingod Police Station, respectively, leaned on their vast experience to crush Davao City's tandem of Glenda Agang and Lycha Ebon, 21-14, 21-18, in the semifinals to set up a titular clash against Bayawan City, a winner over Zambales via default.
Quilario and Catubag have been playing for eight years now.
Catubag said, "Mas bentahe nga kaila nami, kabalo nami sa mga strengths and weaknesses sa matag usa (It's our edge to be familiar with each other and we know each other's strengths and weaknesses)."
Quilario said that they will do their best to win the gold.