IT was a great day at the office for the men’s teams of Cebu as the University of the Visayas (UV) and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) made it to the semifinals of the 15th Nestea Beach Volley national finals yesterday in Boracay Island.
The UV pair of Mike Abria and Jade Becaldo first defeated the Mindanao State University-Tawi Tawi pair of Roldan Medino and Imbran Idris, 21-7, 21-12, in the morning before proceeding to down the De La Salle University-Dasmarinas’ Josel Villanueva and Alnakran Abdilla, 21-10, 21-13.
They finished off their day with a win over the fancied Far Eastern University duo of Arvin Avila and Karl dela Calzada, 23-21, 21-17, to book the ticket to the semifinals, where they will face the University of Mindanao-Tagum’s Daryl Lapiz and Jefty Amora.
Meanwhile, the USJ-R pair of Jade Illut and Jason Uy have defied all the odds and reached the Final Four in spite of their neophyte status.
They ousted the University of Luzon’s Roneil de Guzman and Nelson Alejo, 21-8, 21-19, and then defeated the University of St. La Salle’s Roelene Inaudito and Kerwin Reje 21-14, 21-19. They finished off their day in thrilling fashion as they downed the Holy Child’s Joel Villonson and Edmar Flores, 21-14, 19-21, 15-7.
USJ-R will be facing the Arellano University in the semis.
Uy was ecstatic with the development.
“Makawala jud sa kapuy since wala jud mi nag-expect na maabot diri especially since neophytes pa gud mi,” said Uy.
Over on the distaff side, the Southwestern University (SWU) Lady Cobras were ousted as they lost to the powerhouse University of Sto. Tomas, 11-21, 16-21.
Earlier, SWU’s Lori Mae Layno and Danika Gendrauli defeated the University of Luzon 21-5, 21-9 before handing the De La Salle University the boot with a 21-9, 22-20 win. /correspondent Jonas Panerio