THE duo of Jade Becaldo and Calvin Sarte of Ato Ni Bai clinched a slot in the quarterfinals and will have the chance to make it two in a row in the Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) Cebu Leg.
Ato Ni Bai, which won the Puerto Galera leg a week ago, topped Bracket D in the men’s division after winning all two games in the elimination round in the picturesque Beach Placid Resort in Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island yesterday.
Becaldo and Sarte beat Team Sta. Fe Mayor Esgina-Skydive Greater Cebu 1 before winning against National University (NU).
“This is our second time to play together. When we won in Puerto Galera, it was our debut as a tandem. So far, so good. We’ve now adjusted to our game and we already know our strengths and weakness,” said the 27-year-old Becaldo.
Becaldo, the Most Valuable Player in the Puerto Galera Leg, said their goal is to make it to the championship.
“The chemistry is better now. We will take it one set at a time. I hope that I will face my athletes in the finals,” said Becaldo, referring to the University of Visayas (UV), whose the Cebu School Athletic Association Inc. (Cesafi) beach volleyball champion, whom he coaches.
The UV duo of Kevin Juban and Raphy Abanto barged to the top of Bracket C after splitting two games and winning on a three-way tie over Air Force and University of St. La Salle.
Alastair Gairanod and Kent Verbosidad of University of San Jose Recoletes (USJ-R), the Cesafi beach volleyball first runner-up, showed their force as they topped Bracket B with two wins.
Completing the quarterfinalist in the mens division are Airforce, NU, Bacolod, Asian Volleyballista and Cost Nostra VC.
In the women’s division, the quarterfinalists are Perlas 1, Perlas 2, Wakanda, Air Force 1, Tabuelan, St. Vincent’s College, Uno R-1 and Uno R-2. The quarters, semis and championship games will be played today.
Another volleyball action took place in Sta. Fe Municipal Gym, the 1st Governor’s Cup Volleyball Tournament.
Stephanie Bustrillo showed flashes of brilliance as she lifted Medellin to a 2-1 victory over Tuburan.
Tuburan grabbed the opening set with a closely contested 25-23 before Bustrillo took matters in her own hands in the following sets, 25-14, 25-11.
Bustrillo, who represented Cebu Province in the recently concluded Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Cviraa) in Bohol, put up a string of attacks in the second set for a 25-14 score.
The 17-year-old Bustrillo of Medellin National High School led her team to a dominating 13-2 blast to finish the third set, 25-11.
In the other game, home team Sta. Fe routed City of Bogo in two straight sets, 25-17, 25-11.
The volleyball tournament for players aged 18-Under will continue today with Bogo City facing Medellin and Tuburan taking on Tabogon.