CEBUANO spikers Rey and Relan Taneo and Cebuana volleybelle Grethcel Soltones made their presence felt as they towed their respective teams to the collegiate beach volleyball crowns of the National Collegiate Athletics Association yesterday in Subic.
Soltones and partner Alyssa Eroa of the San Sebastian College-Recoletos pulled off a come-from-behind 16-21, 21-15 15-11 win over San Beda College to complete a rare four-peat in the women’s division.
But the story of day went to the Taneo siblings from Liloan, Cebu, who led the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD) Altas to a 21-17, 20-22, 17-15 victory over the Lyceum Philippines University, ending a three-year title drought.
Fresh from their staggering finals loss in the indoor competition to the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde last Feb. 7, the Altas have put a lot of sacrifice in the past few weeks in the hopes of ending their drought.
“Ngayong taon, prepared kami sa training. Four days kami sa dagat. Doon kami natutulog, we stayed there,” said Altas assistant coach Jason Gabales, who is also from Liloan.
“I think naging mature ang laro ng Taneo brothers. Inspired sila maka-title sa beach dahil talo kami sa indoor,” he added.