Bea Tan-Dij Rodriguez, Ran Abdilla-Jessie Lopez rule BVR: Santa Fe Open

Perlas’ Bea Tan and Dij Rodriguez bested NU-Boysen’s Roma Joy and Roma Mae Doromal, 21-18, 21-16, to rule the Beach Volleyball Republic On Tour Santa Fe Open, Sunday in Bantayan Island, Cebu.

This is Tan and Rodriguez’s second consecutive championship, having won all five matches in the beach volleyball circuit’s third visit to the Cebu province.

Tan and Rodriguez were first challenged in the semifinals, rallying from a set down to beat Air Force 1’s May Ann Pantino and Jozza Cabalza, 14-21, 21-18, 15-12. Meanwhile, the Doromal sisters topped Bacolod’s Bianca Lizares and Margie Señas, 24-22, 21-19, in the other pairing.

Pantino and Cabalza settled for third place after prevailing over Lizares and Señas, 21-15, 21-13.

Sharing the spotlight is Air Force-AboitizLand’s Ranran Abdilla and Jessie Lopez, who overcame a first set loss and rallied from a 4-8 deficit in the third set. They nipped the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod’s Harold Garcia and Neil Depedro, 11-21, 21-16, 15-13, and emerged as men’s champions for a third consecutive time.

The triumph was a fitting send-off for Abdilla and Lopez, who also ruled the December Open in Manila late last year and the Puerto Galera leg two weeks ago. The Air Force standouts will now fully concentrate to the national indoor volleyball team preparing for this year’s Southeast Asian Games.

It was still a great run for Parcia and Depedro, who scored a 21-18, 15-21, 15-9 win over NU Boysen 1’s James Buytrago and Pol Salvador to arrange a Finals duel with Abdilla and Lopez, who overcame an energy-zapping opening set to dispose Visayas 1’s Jade Becaldo and Kevin Juban, 35-33, 21-17.

Buytrago and Salvador completed their first-ever podium finish after besting Becaldo and Juban, 21-18, 21-19.

In the quarterfinals, Tan and Rodriguez bested PetroGazz’s Jonah Sabete and Melanie Torres, 21-17, 21-17. The Doromal’s rallied from a set down to beat Air Force 2’s Angel Antipuesto and Mikaela Andres, 18-21, 21-16, 15-13,

Pantino and Cabalza dominated Cebu’s Therese Ramas and Krizia Talacero, 21-9, 21-8; while Lizares and Señas outlasted LNMB-Tanjay’s Natsu Kilamura and Katrina Epa, 23-25, 21-12, 15-9.

Men’s quarterfinals action saw Parcia and Depedro turn back the Cebu-Russian pair of Amil Pacinio and Mike Shavrak, 21-16, 21-16; Abdilla and Lopez down Bacolod’s Nonoy and Inaudito, 21-12, 21-18; Buytrago and Salvador stun Visayas 2’s Fort Libres and Raphy Abanto, 21-17, 21-14; while Becaldo and Juban needed three sets to subdue AboitizLand’s Krung Arbasto and Jason Uy, 20-22, 21-14, 15-13.

A BVR Sandroots clinic was held in coordination with Cebu Provincial Sports Commission, with coaches Jason Gabales, a Santa Fe native, and Grace Antigua leading the program.