From left, Jade Becaldo and Calvin Sarte of Ato Ni Bai together with University of the Visayas coach Raffy Briones and UV players Raphy Abanto and Kevin Juban together after the championship match of the Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) On Tour-Cebu leg at the Placid Beach Resort in Sta.Fe, Bantayan Island, Cebu. Ato Ni Bai emerged as the champion after defeating UV in the finals. CDN PHOTO.Ray Charlie Diaz
ATO NI BAI composed of Jade Becaldo and Calvin Sarte topped the Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) On Tour- Cebu yesterday at the Placid Beach Resort in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island.
The duo, which, two weeks ago, ruled the first leg in Puerto Galera, defeated Kevin Juban and Raphy Abanto of University of the Visayas (UV), 21-10, 21-15, to bag the title.
Ato Ni Bai will, thus, be participating in the national finals of the BVR this April in Dagupan.
Incidentally, Becaldo faced his volleyball players Juban and Abanto in their final encounter.
“Even though they are my students, I still gave my best,” Becaldo said. “Afterall, this is a competition.
Juban said he and his partner also gave their all but they had a tough time adjusting to the wind.
“We gave our best as well but the strong wind really caused us to struggle,” Juban said. “Coach Becaldo and his partner know how to make adjustments with the weather conditions.”
Becaldo felt proud not only of the win but also with the way his students played against him. This was the first time that their teams collided in a championship game.
Meanwhile, the University of Negros Occidental- Recoletos (UNO-R) 1’s Erjane Magdato and Alexa Polidario emerged champion in the women’s division after defeating Wakanda’s Dzi Gervacio and Kassie Gormley, 21-10, 21-13.
Ato Ni Bai and UNO-R1 took home P40,000 for tropping their respective divisions.
Sarte was hailed Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the men’s side while Magdato bagged the women’s plum.