The spiking duo from the University of the Visayas continued to make waves the men’s beach volleyball tournament in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) but not without going through a couple of tough assignments yesterday at the sand court of Southwestern University.
The tandem of Nestea Beach Volley national champion Mike Abria and Mark Fernandez got a little scare against the University of San Carlos’ Mark Abut and Clyde Flores after the latter won the first set, 21-17.
But UV got its acts together and swept the next two, 21-14, 15-8.
The University of San Jose-Recoletos’ Owen Belen and Jade Illiut also gave UV a run for its money but ultimately fell, 21-14, 19-21, 15-5.
UV finished the day with a 21-16, 21-16 win over the University of Cebu.
SWU’s Rommel Pepito and Relan Taneo also got a trio of victories as they defeated UC, 21-8, 21-11 and then, USC, 14-21, 21-14, 15-9, before sweeping CIT-U, 21-14, 21-12.
USC’s lone win of the day came at the expense of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University, 21-13, 19-21, 15-7. USJ-R defeated USPF, 21-18, 21-17 but USPF bounced back with a 21-8, 21-7 win over CIT-U.
Over on the distaff side, SWU kept its bid for a third straight crown alive as Danika Gendrauli and Rapril Aguilar won over USPF’s Rochelle Rica and former Nestea national champion Apple Saraum, 21-18, 19-21, 15-11 before getting past USC’s Anna Capinpin and Chona Gesulga, 21-14, 21-16.
The elimination round continues this morning before the semifinals and finals commence later in the day.