Two days after advancing to the national finals of the 16th Nestea Beach Volley, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) will be vying for the men’s and women’s titles of the Talisay City Beach Volley Invitational this afternoon beside the Talisay City National Historic Shrine Liberation Monument.
The USPF men’s tandem of Edward Ybanez and Edmar Bonono get a chance to prove that their entry to the Nestea national finals in Boracay next month was no fluke. USPF was forced to default its semifinal and fight-for-third matches last weekend during the Nestea VISMIN eliminations in Moalboal, southwest of Cebu when Bonono suffered from cramps during their quarterfinal match against Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC). Bonono suffered the cramps in the last stretch of the deciding set which USPF won, 19-17.
USPF had to also forgo its semifinal match against Mindanao State University (MSU) after Bonono had to be taken to the hospital.
The team, however, still managed to advance to the national finals after barging into the semifinals, which earned them a fourth place finish in the Nestea regionals next to its foe USJ-R which finished third.
In the women’s title, USPF tandem of Apple Saraum and Rochelle Rica will go up against the Southwestern duo of Therese Rae Ramas and Anna Bennova Sabanal.
The USPF volleybelles finished in fifth place in the Nestea regionals and also earned a ticket to Boracay despite losing in the quarterfinal round to Jose Maria College (JMC).
The Talisay beach volley is part of the city’s celebration of the American landing.
Other teams that saw action during the eliminations were University of San Carlos (USC), University of Cebu (UC), University of the Visayas (UV), and Southwestern University (SWU).
The champions will get P5,000, while the second and third will receive P3,000 and P1,000, respectively.