Showing seemless chemistry and determination, it was the pairs that frequented BVR’s previous legs that came out on top of their respective pools in the Beach Volleyball Republic National Championships at the SM Sands by the bay.
Soriano, Micek tops Pool A with immaculate slate
The indomitable pair of BVR founder Charo Soriano and Fil-Am Alexa Micek topped Pool A with a perfect 3-0 record.
They faced the most adversity in their final pool match against Negros tandem Jennifer Cosas and Flor Rodriguez when they had to pull off gutsy comebacks in the second and third set to clinch the match 20-22, 21-19, 15-10. Micek and Soriano had swept their two previous matches – against Hawaiian Tatiana Sablan and Guaminian Ivee Ilao 21-9, 21-15 and San Beda’s Viray twins Nieza and Jeziela 21-14, 21-17. Soriano and Micek came into the tournament, winning four of the past seven legs.
With identical 1-2 record with the two other Pool A pairs, Cosas and Rodriguez managed to squeak into the next round via a quotient tiebreaker.
PAF soars through Pool B
In Pool B, Air Force pair and BVR staples Judy Caballejo and Camille Abanto also kept a perfect slate sweeping all three of their matches. Iloilo pair DM Demontaño and Jackie Estaquio also qualified into the next round, only losing to Caballejo and Abanto 11-21, 19-21.
Beach Volleyball stalwarts Tan, Ceballos breeze through Pool C
BVR founder Bea Tan and Bacolod beach volleyball star Fiola Ceballos dominated Pool C while also maintaining a perfect record ending all three of their matches through sweeps. Tagum City pair Lourdilyn Catubag and Karen Quilario managed a 2-1 slate good enough for them to qualify into the quarterfinals.
Cebuanas escape Saraum, Brillo in Pool D
Cebuanas Apple Saraum and Jusabelle Brillo played tremendously in close matches and sealed a perfect 3-0 record heading into the quarterfinals. Late entries from Bacolod Erjane Magdato and Alexa Polidario only lost to Saraum and Brillo in a close three-setter, allowing them to take the final quarterfinals spot.
Teams will now vie for four semis spot with Micek and Soriano taking on Magdato and Polidario while Saraum and Brillo face Cosas and Rodriguez in the Pool A and D crossover. Tan and Ceballos will go head-to-head with Demontaño and Estoquia while Cabatug and Quilario try to take down Abanto and Caballejo in the Pool B and Pool C crossover.
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