They gave it their all, and the reward was gold.
Needing to use up their twice-to-beat advantage, Rey and Relan Taneo of the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas have finally secured their first NCAA Men’s Beach Volleyball Championship with a hard-fought 21-16, 20-22, 17-15 win over Joeward Presnede and Jhonel Badua of the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates, held at the sands of the Subic Park Hotel in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
“Sarap sa feeling na binigay ng Panginoon ‘yung trophy kasi hindi namin nakuha sa indoor kaya nag-double time kami na makuha dito sa beach volleyball kasi last playing year ko na sa indoor at beach volley,” Relan Taneo told Tiebreaker Times moments after winning the title.
“Sobrang saya kasi first time ko rin makahawak ng trophy sa beach volley. Eager akong manalo,” Rey Taneo followed.
The Altas dropped their match of championship series against the pair of Jhonel Badua and Joeward Presnede with a 15-21, 21-16, 15-13 loss. After they made their in-game adjustments in their second match, LPU proved to be a tough opponent, and the Taneo brothers needed to use all their tricks in the bag to secure the title.
“Ang masasabi ko lang, siyempre, malakas ‘yung kalaban — may galaw sila, at all out sila kanina,” Rey Taneo added.
But above else, the brothers from Liloan, Cebu said that this maiden title became more special because of their parents’ wish when they were younger. They said that it was their parents’ dream to win in volleyball leagues but they had come up short.
“Special ito kasi magkapatid kami. Iyon ang gusto ng parents namin. Hindi nila natuloy ito nung mga kabataan nila kaya parang gusto nila na kami ang tumapos,” Rey Taneo said.
