In just two days, a new rivalry has been born in the sand courts of Subic. And it comes to a collision course on the final day.
Abanse Negrense and Sta. Lucia will square off in the semifinals of the 2021 Gatorade-PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup after disposing of their respective foes, Saturday.
Sta. Lucia A’s DM Demontano and Jackie Estoquia avoided an upset of epic proportions in the quarterfinals, staving off F2 Logistics Kyla Gallego and Jennymar Senares 16-21, 21-10, 15-10.
Gallego and Senares were up 9-7 to start the third set but Estoquia fired right back with a 4-2 blast to gain a much-needed cushion that eventually secured the game.
Demontano and Estoquia, who were the odds-on favorites entering the tournament, will take on Gelimae Villanueva and Jennifer Cosas of Abanse Negrense B, who defeated Kennedy Solar Energy- Petrogazz’s Ariane Alarcon and Christina Canares, 21-6, 21-3.
In the other bracket, Abanse Negrense A’s Erjane Magdato and Alexa Polidario booted out Toby’s Sports’ aven Sabas and Jonah San Pedro, 21-12, 21-11 while Sta. Lucia B’s Jonah Sabete and Bang Pineda eliminated United Auctioneers’ Ella Viray and Theresa Ramas, 21-13, 21-15.
Both semis match-ups are rematches of elimination round matches with Abanse Negrense coming out on top on both occasions. Cosas and Villanueva defeated Demontano and Estoquia, 6-21, 21-14, 15-11, while Polidario and Magdato pounced on Pineda and Sabete, 21-14, 21-12.
“Kailangan lang namin magmind set and magfocus going to semis na makakalaban ulit namin yung nakalaban namin sa elimination,” Pineda said.
“Maglalaro lang kami kung ano yung pinagpraktisan namin and yung mga nilalaro namin na naipapanalo namin, dadagdagan lang namin.”
On the other hand, Polidario is hoping for an all-Negrense championship clash.
“Talagang talaga kukunin, kung kaya yung championship, bibigay lang namin lahat,” said Polidario.
F2 Logistics, Kennedy Solar Energy- Petro Gazz, United Auctioneers, and Toby’s Sports will still play in classification matches.
