Rey and Relan Taneo of the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas were near-unstoppable in last season’s NCAA Men’s Beach Volleyball Tournament. The beach volleyball one-two punch from Liloan, Cebu had swept the entire elimination round and immediately booked an outright Finals berth.
Many believed that the championship series against Philip Bagalay and Peejay Cuzon, of the Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals, would be a mere formality for the Taneo brothers. However, their collapse happened at the worst possible time, and saw their title hopes dashed by their opponent.
“Sobrang laki kasi yung goal namin, hindi namin nakuha. Ang sakit lang kasi sweep nga, hindi naman nakuha,” Rey Taneo told Tiebreaker Times.
“Pero ngayon, kung sakaling ma-sweep namin, paninindigan na namin. Hindi na ‘yung magrerelax-relax kami.”
Just like last season, the Altas have swept the elimination round and are now just a win away from bagging gold.
“Siyempre, ang masasabi ko lang sarili ko na all-out ako nung game na iyon,” Rey Taneo shared.
“Ayaw kong mabigat sa kapatid ko kasi siyempre last playing year na niya. Parehas kami ng goal.”
The Taneo brothers also believe that they’ve improved compared to their performance last year. They indicated that their communication has become sharper, and they have made it a point to play more selflessly this time around.
“Wala namin last season is communication.Ang mga pagkakamali noon, binabago namin kasi doon kami natatalo – konting usap lang kami,” Relan Taneo said.
His brother echoed the same sentiment.
“Sobrang laki kasi yung goal namin, hindi namin nakuha. Ang sakit lang kasi sweep nga, hindi naman nakuha,” Rey Taneo added.
“Pero ngayon, kung sakaling ma-sweep namin, paninindigan na namin. Hindi na ‘yung magrerelax-relax kami.”
And now that they are in the Finals once more, they know that they will not let the ghost of their past haunt them again.
“Siyempre po gustong-gusto namin bumawi kasi ‘yung goal namin hindi namin nakuha ‘yun last season,” Rey Taneo said.
“Pero siyempre ngayon, kung sino ‘yung naghihirap, siya ang mananalo kay paghihirapan namin ngayon – wala nang relax-relax, at kung ano man ang nakikita ng mga tao hindi na mauulit iyon.”
