UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Hel’s Mary Rhose Dapol and Krisha Cordero turned back Jose Rizal U’s Karyla Rafaela Jasareno and Czarina Nina Ramos 21-12, 19-21, 15-13 yesterday to take an early share of the lead with three others at the start of the NCAA Season 99 beach volleyball in Subic Bay.
It was a win that jump-started the Lady Altas’ bid of snaring their first title since completing a spectacular four-peat feat 11 years ago.
Also hurdling their opening round assignments in the women’s division were San Beda, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and Arellano U.
SBU’s Angel Habacon and Reyanna Caneta smashed Lyceum of the Philippines U’s Christina Cañares and Baby Mar Nichole Collado 21-13, 21-8; EAC’s Cathrine Almazan and Christine Joy Cordial edged Mapua’s Raina Airyl Verginio and Nadine Angeli Berces 14-21, 21-16, 15-8; and AU’s Alona Nichole Caguicla and Harem Ceballos trounced St. Benilde’s Angelika Mondejar and Doreen Baguio 21-15, 21-17.
The Lady Blazers bounced back from the defeat by downing San Sebastian’s Kat Santos and Juna May Gonzales 21-12, 21-12 to claim their first win and stay in the medal hunt.
In men’s action, JRU’s Windel Laurenciana and Matthew Miguel shocked defending champion UPHSD’s Louie Ramirez and Jefferson Marapoc 22-20, 18-21, 15-11 to set in motion its championship aspirations.
Other games saw AU’s Adrian Villados and Arman Clarence Guinto surviving CSB’s Leonard Van Jaboli and Arnel Christian Aguilar, 24-26, 21-17, 15-8; Mapua’s Kenneth Eslapor and Saint Marlowe Jamisola fending off EAC’s Bhim Lawrence Diones and Ervin Patrick Osabel, 21-19, 9-21, 15-10; San Beda’s Aidjien Josh Rus and Mohammad Shaif Ali Tahiluddin flattening LPU’s Janse Palad and Josue Velasco III, 21-18, 21-14; and CSB’s Arnel Christian Aguilar and James Harold Marasigan besting Kyle Angelo Villamor and Jezreel Franz Marcos, 12-21, 21-19, 15-13.
