RC Cola-Army A and Foton remained undefeated as both sides punched tickets to the semi-finals of the Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2016 after easy wins on Saturday at the Sands SM By The Bay in Manila.
The RC Cola-Army A tandem of Jovelyn Gonzaga and Nene Bautista dispatched Petron Sprint 4T’s Maica Morada and Ces Molina, 21-14, 21-12 in their quarter-final affair.
Though Petron scored three straight to open the first set, Army A answered with an 8-2 run to take control, 8-5. A cut shot by Bautista made it 16-11 as Army A cruised to take the opening set.
Army-A then broke a slim 8-7 edge in the second set and turned it into a 16-9 lead as Petron struggled with its reception.
Foton’s tandem of Cherry Rondina and Patty Orendain broke no sweat at all, scoring a dominant 21-8, 21-14 win over RC Cola-Army B’s Genie Sabas and Jennie Delos Reyes.
An 11-3 start in the opening set was all Foton needed to assert control and take charge in the match. Foton then opened the second frame with an 11-2 run to pull away and seal the victory.
Petron XCS eliminates F2 Logistics
Petron XCS’ Bang Pineda and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas edged F2 Logistics’ Aby Marano and Danika Gendrauli, eliminating the Cargo Movers with a 21-17, 21-16 win.
Petron XCS broke a 17-all deadlock in the first set as Maizo-Pontillas scored back to back hits. A service ace from Pineda later gave Petron the opening set, 21-17.
In the second set, back to back aces by Maizo-Pontillas allowed Petron XCS to pull away, 11-7. The tandem maintained the lead, before Pineda’s two consecutive hits ended the match, 21-16.
FEU overcomes Navy A
The FEU Lady Tamaraw duo of Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza took the last semi-finals spot of the women’s tournament, coming from behind to stun pre-tournament no. 1 seed Standard Insurance-Navy A’s Pau Soriano and Norie Jane Diaz, 13-21, 22-20, 15-10.
After a lethargic opening set, FEU made good use of their placement shots to take a 12-9 lead in the second set. A hit by Atienza and an ace by Pons later on made it 17-15 for FEU, but errors pushed Navy A on top, 18-17.
But Pons recovered and scored on a spike before Soriano and Atienza traded spikes. The set was still knotted at 20 apiece until Pons and Atienza each scored as FEU took the second set, 22-20.
Things then went astray for Navy A in the third set as Diaz had a difficult time on defense. FEU took an 8-4 lead, and never went threatened again even as Atienza ended the match with a spike.
Men’s semifinals set
Elimination round competition in the men’s division also concluded after Day 3, with four pairs advancing to the semifinals.
Philippine Navy A’s Nur-amin Madsairi and Roldan Medino clinched the top spot in Pool B. The duo SM By The Bay’s Daniel and Tim Young, 21-9, 21-9, and TVM’s Anthony Arbasto and Kris Roy Guzman, 16-21, 21-17, 18-16 in Day 3.
Navy A finished with a 4-0 record, while TVM took the other semi-finals spot in Pool B after compiling a 3-1 record.
TVM, which played three games in Day 3, won over Cignal’s Rey and Relan Taneo, 22-24, 21-14, 15-8, and SM By The Bay, 21-18, 22-20.
Teams advancing from Pool A are Philippine Navy B’s Pajiji Alsali and Milover Parcon and FEU A’s Joel Cayaban and Franco Camcam.
Navy B defeated FEU A, 21-18, 21-10 in Day 3 to walk away with a 4-0 card. FEU A settled for a 3-1 slate entering the semi-finals.
2016 PSL Challenge Cup Men’s Division Day 3 results
May 22, 2016 – Sands by the Bay, Pasay City
Navy B (Pajiji Alsali/Milover Parcon) def. UE (Geric Ortega/Ruvince Abrot), 21-13, 21-18.
FEU B (Rikko Marmeto/Greg Dolor) def. SM By The Bay (Tim Young/Daniel Young), 21-9, 21-18.
TVM (Anthony Arbasto/Kris Roy Guzman) def. Cignal (Rey Taneo/Relan Taneo), 22-24, 21-14, 15-8.
FEU A (Joel Cayaban/Franco Camcam) def. IEM (Arjay Salcedo/Bobby Gatdula), 21-17, 21-10.
Navy A (Nur-amin Madsairi/Roldan Medino) def. SM By The Bay (Tim Young/Daniel Young), 21-9, 21-9.
Wayuk (Philip Bagalay/Paul John Cuzon) def. UE (Geric Ortega/Ruvince Abrot), 21-12, 21-14.
Navy B (Pajiji Alsali/Milover Parcon) def. FEU A (Joel Cayaban/Franco Camcam), 21-18, 21-10
Navy A (Nur-amin Madsairi/Roldan Medino) def. TVM (Kris Roy Guzman/Anthony Arbasto), 16-21, 21-17, 18-16.
TVM (Kris Roy Guzman/Anthony Arbasto) def. SM By The Bay (Tim Young/Daniel Young), 21-18, 22-20.
Wayuk (Philip Bagalay/Paul John Cuzon) def. IEM (Arjay Salcedo/Bobby Gatdula), 21-18, 21-13.
Men’s standings – end of elimination round
Pool A (W-L)
Navy B 4-0
FEU A 3-1
Wayuk 2-2
IEM 1-3
UE 0-4
Pool B (W-L)
Navy A 4-0
TVM 3-1
Cignal 2-2
FEU B 1-3
SM By The Bay 0-4
Photos by Roman Prospero (PSL Images)
