Cebuano beach spiker Jade Becaldo wants to make an impact in PSL Challenge Cup

AIMING FOR THE TOP

Cebuano spiker Jade Becaldo hopes to raise the city’s flag up high as he competes in the PLDT Home Ultera-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2015 this Saturday at the SM By the Bay in SM Mall of Asia.

Fresh off his triumph in the Kings of the Sand tournament last weekend, Becaldo will be pairing up with Tagum City-native Hachaliah Gilbuena to represent SM By the Bay A to compete against a packed field filled with some of the best male beach volleyball spikers in the land.

Becaldo is the marked man owing to his reputation-bolstering triumph last weekend that raised his profile amongst Manila’s elite.

“Akong aim ani na tournament is ma-notice ming mga Bisaya ug isaka nako ang ngalan sa Cebu sa beach volleyball map,” said Becaldo in a talk with Cebu Daily News after his morning training session. (My aim in this tournament is for us Visayans to be noticed. And I want to raise the name of Cebu in the beach volleyball map.)

Becaldo is no stranger to high-stakes beach volleyball competitions after winning the Nestea Beach Volley national crowns in 2012 and 2013. He also represented the country in the highly competitive 16th Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Samila Open in Songkhla, Thailand last April with Edward Ybañez of University of Southern Philippines.

However, he has some concern with regards to his partner, who’s a relative neophyte at this level.

“Akong partner gyud ang target ani which is gipangandaman na namo. Bata pa gyud iya dinuwaan but what I like about him is ang endurance, presence of mind  and willingness to be coached during the game. Maminaw gyud siya so okay na ko ana,” said Becaldo, a former University of Mindanao-Tagum standout. (My partner is the target but we prepared for this. His game is really young but what I like about him is his endurance, presence of mind and willingness to be coached during the game. He really listens so I’m okay with that.)

Becaldo’s team will be up against a stacked field led by brothers Tim and Daniel Young of SM By the Bay B as well as Fernando Alboro and Ronel Del Mundo of  University of Perpetual Help Molino A; Emanuel Gamat and Paolo Alona of University of Perpetual Help Molino B; Sandy Montero and Edmar Bonono of Cignal A; Jay Dela Cruz and Emmanuel Luces of Cignal B; Michael Ian Conde and Karl Dela Calzada of Instituto Estetico Manila (IEM); and Angelo Espiritu and Nestor Molate of Champion Infinity A.