Magnificent right from their first match, Brazilians Bruna Figueiredo and Mimi Amaral took the Beach Volleyball Republic Invitational throne, quelling Americans Jennifer Snyder and Chara Harris in the Final, 21-14, 18-21, 15-9, at the scenic Anguib Beach in Sta. Ana Cagayan earlier today.
Figuereido and Amaral wrapped up a perfect three-day run, winning every set until the Final. The Brazilians had defeated Snyder and Harris earlier in the day to book their ticket to the Final, 21-13, 21-9.
Snyder and Harris had to climb back into the Final, beating fellow Americans Alexa Micek and Leah Hinkey 21-10, 21-14 in a do-or-die match. Micek and Hinkey survived the grueling loser’s bracket to get their shot at their countrymen, defeating New Zealand duo Julia Tilley and Alicia Bain 21-8, 21-14.
The American tandem of Alexa Micek and Leah Hinkey bagged third place and 3,500USD
Team USA’s Jennifer Snyder and Chara Harris settle for 2nd place and 4,500USD
The champions of Brazil will go home with a cool 6,000USD
The Brazilians had competed in the Philippines before, placing fourth in the Spike for Peace tournament, last year.
“It’s great that we were came back to the Philippines and won a championship this time,” said Amaral. “The experience here has been amazing and I’m just glad we became champions. It makes it even sweeter for us,” Figueirado added.
The champions have been playing together for nearly 10 years, longer than any other tandem.
Local pairs Jennifer Cosas and Dij Rodriguez, and Bea Tan and Charo Sporiano finished in joint fifth together with Yupa Phokongploy and Rachel Herman from Thailand, and Kong Cheuk Yee and To Wing Tung of Hong Kong.
After the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) sanctioned this event, BVR is looking to continue holding events all over the Philippines.
