Cherry Rondina and Dzi Gervacio became the last Filipina pair standing in the 2018 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Manila Open following a 21-17, 21-17 conquest of Canada’s Caleigh Cruickshank and Megan Nagy in the round-of-12 Saturday at the Sands SM By The Bay.
With modest expectations of playing well against international, battle-tested sand court veterans, Gervacio was satisfied with how things had gone in her maiden partnership with Rondina in the one-star tournament.
“Ako, hindi ko talaga inii-expect na malayo ang mararating namin — na aabot kami ng Day Two,” said Gervacio, one of Beach Volleyball Republic’s co-founders. “Kasi, ako personally, I haven’t trained internationally. And I know for a fact na matatangkad ang kalaban natin. But from the get-go, noong nakalaban namin ang USA, alam ko may pag-asa tayo.”
Rondina and Gervacio compensated for the size disadvantage with solid defense on the sand and by playing smart.
It was Rondina and Gervacio’s second win in the one-star tournament following last Friday’s 21-12, 21-16 conquest of the United States’ Lindsey Fuller and Kaley Melville at the women’s main draw opener.
The duo also avenged the loss of their fellow Filipina bets Charo Soriano and Bea Tan to their Canadian opponents, 12-21, 15-21, in the losers’ bracket on Friday that eliminated them in the tournament.
Earlier, the Philippines’ other remaining hope, Lot Catubag and Karen Quilario of the PNP, bowed out after a heartbreaking 34-36, 23-25, 15-17 loss to Thailand’s Thatsarida Singchuea and Pawarun Chanthawichai.
Catubag and Quilario were at match point late in the second frame and twice in the deciding set, but the pair from Tagum could not close out the young Thai duo, who are the newly-minted Asian U19 beach volleyball champions.
“More teamwork and more practice,” said Quilario after the match.
After Thailand went at match point, the Philippines needed a medical timeout, as Catubag went down with cramps. She eventually returned to the sand, but the Thais were able to complete the kill in the tournament’s most exciting match that sent every set to an extension.
If given the chance to play more FIVB World Tour events outside the country, the reigning two-time Beach Volleyball Republic national champions are willing to join to gain more experience.
“Gusto naming maglaro kahit saan para exposure na rin,” said Quilario.
“Kung bibigyan kami ng pagkakataon, iga-grab namin ang opportunity na maglaro ng ganitong level. Maraming gustong maglaro pero bihira lang ang magbigyan ng pagkakataon sa ganitong competition,” added Catubag.
In other round of 12 matches, Germany’s Lisa-Sophie Kotzan and Leonie Klinke prevailed over The Netherlands’ Katja Stam and Lisa Wouters, 21-11, 21-19, while the United States’ Lindsey Fuller and Kaley Melville beat Norway’s Janne Pedersen and Hanne Zylstra, 21-15, 21-17.
Men’s round-of-12 action saw Spain’s Javier and Alejandro Huerta upset Martin Appelgren and Simon Boman of top-seed Sweden, 24-22, 21-15, to make it to the quarters.
Felix Friedl and Maximillian Trummer defeated Jorg Wutzl and Simon Fruhbauer, in an all-Austrian duel, 23-21, 21-19, Russia’s Petr Bakhnar and Taras Myskivsurge past Chinese Taipei Wang Chin-Ju and Hsieh Ya-Jen, 21-14, 21-8, while Australia’s Marcus Fegurson and Tom Dickson swept Hong Kong’s Kevib Lau Tsz Ho and Wong Pui Lam, 21-15, 21-15.
