ABANSE Negrense’s Bea Tan and Jennifer Cosas, as well as Grass to Bone’s Honey Grace Cordero and Roma Joy Doromal, started strong on the women’s side by securing two victories in the Beach Volleyball Republic on Tour Sipalay City leg at Poblacion Beach on Saturday.
Tan and Cosas, who finished third in the Candon City leg last weekend, easily defeated Ateneo’s Jana Cane and Yumi Furukawa with a score of 21-19, 21-6; and DLSU’s Baby Jyne Soreño and Lorien Gamboa with a score of 21-19, 21-12, placing them at the top of Pool A.
Cordero and Doromal faced a tough challenge but managed to win 21-17, 18-21, 15-11 against Erjane Magdato and Edrilyn Carbajosa of Pontevedra, remaining undefeated in Pool B. They continued their dominance by dismantling Janelle Malala and Trisha Mae Geneblaza of Sipalay with a score of 21-9, 21-8.
Team Preska’s Bianca Lizares and MJ Ebro, reunited for the second leg, defeated DLSU’s Maicah Larroza and Matet Espina with a score of 21-18, 21-16 in Pool C.
Gelimae Villanueva and Kyla Gallego of Pontevedra also made a strong statement in their quest for the title, routing Jeyanah Ledesma and Alexandra Agda of Sipalay with an impressive score of 21-3, 21-3.
Soreño and Gamboa, both making their BVR on Tour debut, started their campaign with a 21-12, 21-12 victory over Jastine Amaro and Kimberly Debuyan of Sipalay.
Cane and Furukawa bounced back from their defeat to Tan and Cosas, winning 26-24, 26-24 against Amaro and Debuyan.
In the men’s division, first leg winners Ranran Abdilla and Rancel Varga continued their dominant performance, aiming for a sweep of this month’s leg championships.
Abdilla and Varga, who had a perfect campaign in Candon City, overpowered Arbel Belleza and Rowell Panaguiton of Sipalay with a score of 21-9, 21-13 in Pool A.
DLSU’s Vince Maglinao and Andre Espejo remained undefeated in two Pool C matches, defeating Michael Arañez and Dan Mark Claridad of Sipalay with a score of 21-11, 21-9, and Toto de Pedro and Eljhay Ronquillo of Abanse Negrense with a score of 10-21, 22-20, 18-16.
De Pedro and Ronquillo, who also defeated Ateneo’s Amil Pacinio and Jian Salarzon with a score of 21-18, 21-14, and Sipalay’s Michael Arañez and Dan Mark Claridad with a score of 19-21, 21-12, 15-6, settled for a 2-1 record in Pool C.
Pacinio and Salarzon currently have a 1-1 slate after conquering Arañez and Claridad with a score of 21-10, 21-13.
In Pool B, AJ Pareja and Vincent Nadera of Beach Volleyball Manila set in motion its championship bid with a 21-10, 25-23 triumph over John Joseph Mirasol and Johnrel Talita of Sipalay, while Lucas Yang and Jovan Ang of Singapore bested Allaine Tejares and John Carl Araneta of D’Prints, 21-13, 20-22, 15-12.
The top two finishers per bracket along with the two best third placers (lucky losers) in this Saturday’s pool round will advance to the quarterfinals on Sunday.
