AMIDST searing-hot temperatures that rose as high as 39 degrees Celsius, the spikers of the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) coolly kept their title defense intact as they logged in their second win in a row in the 18th
Nestea Intercollegiate Beach Volleyball competition at the Beach Chalets at Station 2 on the pristine beaches of Boracay Island.
Ranged against a game University of Mindanao (UM)-Tagum squad, the pair of Edmar Bono and Edward Ybañez showed their championship mettle to come away with a 21-16, 23-21 victory, their second in as many games.
The Spiking Panthers now stand a win away from making it to the semifinals. Standing in their way today at 8 a.m. will be the very same team they just conquered, UM-Tagum.
Still, USP-F’s longtime head coach Cecil Jotojot remarked that Bonono remained far from peak form, especially since the latter barely had any time to train for beach volleyball with his commitments to the Cignal HD Spikers in the Spikers’ Turf tournament.
“Ang hangin ni Bonono kailangan mag-improve kay sa indoor man siya ga-practice. Lahi jud ang sa beach volley. Unya init pa jud kaayo diri. Nidagan na ug 38 to 39 degrees,” said Jotojot.
Cebu’s other representatives in the men’s division, the Cesafi beach volleyball champions Southwestern University (SWU), bounced back after suffering a loss to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) during opening day by registering two straight wins.
The pair of Jewel Pepito and Rommel Cabahug first vanquished the University of Mindanao-Davao, 21-18, 21-16 and then took care of the Colegio San Agustin, 21-18, 21-10 to put themselves in the same boat as their Cebuano compatriots. A win today over UST would net the SWU spikers a place in the final four.
“We’re doing great. Katong pag kontra namo sa UST, first game pa to nila. Nag-adjust pa sad to sila sa court ug sa kainit,” said SWU head coach Dave Arreza.