The Philippines kicked off its campaign in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures Nuvali with a dominant performance, as Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa dismantled Australia’s Charlotte Graham and Emma Hannagan, 21-11, 21-8, on Thursday in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
University Athletic Association of the Philippines champions from National University, Epa and Cordero took early control of the qualifying match and never looked back, wrapping up the windy midday clash in just 29 minutes.
“We knew it was essential to get the opening win for the Philippines,” said Cordero. “We’re so happy to get this victory.
“The heat was so intense, we needed to push ourselves even more, knowing that fatigue would set in as the match went on,” she added.
The 5-foot-5 Cordero, 22, delivered four straight service aces to push the Philippines ahead 20-11 in the first set.
Utilizing smart cut shots and off-speed hits, Cordero and her 23-year-old partner Epa (5’8”) kept the Australians off balance throughout the match.
Competing in their second international tournament in as many months, the NU duo is aiming for continued improvement as the competition progresses.
“We know we need to work on a lot of things in our game. We aim to have a more fluid offense and solid defense,” said Cordero.
Up next for them is a match against Japan’s Keiko Urata and Minami Asano.
Their impressive start provides a boost to the rest of the Alas Pilipinas pairs in the 19-nation tournament, including the returning tandem of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, Sunnie Villapando and Jen Gaviola, University of Santo Tomas duo Khylem Progella and Sofia Pagara, and the pair of Alexa Polidario and Dij Rodriguez.
The tournament’s main draw, organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation under president Ramon “Tats” Suzara—who also serves as president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation and Executive Vice President of the FIVB—kicks off on Friday.
On the men’s side, World Beach Pro Tour Futures silver medalists Rancel Varga and James Buytrago lead the Filipino charge, joined by Jude Garcia and Jaron Requinton, Lerry John Francisco and Edwin Tolentino, and the Ronniel Rosales–Alex Iraya tandem in this tournament backed by Ayala Land, Nuvali Evoliving, the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, PLDT Home, Rebisco, Akari, Mikasa, Microtel by Wyndham South Forbes, Cignal, One Sports, Pilipinas Live, Senoh, Alibaba Cloud, ialchemy, One Over Zero Technologies, and Supreme Infotech Solutions.
In other women’s results, Israel’s Daniela Gonzales and Dafna Maor edged out Australia’s Lina Mueller and Chloe Sumich, 21-18, 18-21, 15-12. Canada’s Emma Cudmore and Sophie Hancock swept Latvia’s Deneva Sauberga and Rezija Puskundze, 24-22, 21-12, while Japan’s Nozomi Sekiguchi and Yu Okuno triumphed over Israel’s Shira Tal and Shiray Danenberg, 21-15, 21-17.
In men’s play, Italy’s Simone Podesta and Sergio Seregni took down Japan’s Ryo Tatsumi and Shiro Furuta, 21-15, 21-15.
