UM-Tagum sweeps titles in Mindanao leg of Nestea beach volley

THE FIRST TICKETS to Boracay have already been booked after the University of Mindanao-Tagum won the men’s and women’s divisions in the Mindanao leg of the 15th Nestea Beach Volleyball Collegiate Championship held last weekend at the Paradise Park and Resort on Samal Island.

Jefty Mora teamed up with Kim Lapiz to win the men’s crown as they defeated the tandem of Roldan Medina and Imbran Indris of the Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, 21-14, 21-19.

On the distaff side, Mylene Que and veteran spiker Leizl Manatad eked past the University of Mindanao-Davao pair of May Agton and Reynilen Raterta.

The aforementioned spikers will be making their way to Boracay on April 19 to 21 for the national championships.

Also earning spots there in the men’s class were Joel Villonson and Edmar Flores of Holy Cross of Davao and Elvie Marikit and Irish Dignadice of Jose Maria College of Davao City for the women’s side.

The national championships will dangle a whopping cash prize of P100,000 for the champion, P65,000 for the second placers, and P35,000 and P22,500 for the runners-up.

The Mindanao qualifiers will now await the winners of the Visayas eliminations, which will be held on March 9 to 11 in Moalboal, southwestern  Cebu.

The Luzon leg will be held on March 21 while the Manila leg will be on March 25 at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH) Campus in Tanauan, Batangas.  /Correspondent Jonas Panerio