Nestea beach volley finals today
BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

BEACH VOLLEY GOES ON. Sherilyn Carillo of Lyceum returns the ball as her teammate Kate Jarin dives during the Nestea Beach volleyball 2007 held in Boracay, Aklan.Their opponent Southwestern University won the Game (Nonie Reyes)

BORACAY — Three-time champion Southwestern University beat University of Mindanao-Tagum twice yesterday to barge into the women’s Final Four of the Nestea Beach Volleyball tournament.
Veterans Marites Natad and Janelle Tabio combined power and quickness to hack out a 22-20, 23-21 win over Liezl Manatad and Mylin Que in the morning match before eliminating the Mindanao leg champions, 21-14, 21-10, in the afternoon.
For Natad, 23, this will be her third semifinals appearance since helping her school win the 2005 title. She also made it to the finals last year in partnership with Florian Gutierez but they were denied of a fourth straight title.
"Gusto ko talagang manalo ulit ang school namin," said Natad. "Last year kasi na-out kaagad kami ng dati kong partner. Pero ngayon gusto kong makabawi."
Natad and her partner will face Hannah Suarez and Rissa Laguilles of Adamson with the winner advancing to the finals also scheduled today.
Suarez and Laguilles banked on a better quotient to advance the semis following a 17-21, 21-12, 16-14 win over University of San Jose Recoletos’ Julett Marikit and Genie Sabas.
Holy Cross of Davao College also had to beat University of Mindanao-Davao twice to remain in contention.
Carren Desierto and Dolly Penaflorida, who only trained for a month before plunging into action, ousted an ailing Janice Arnaiz and Maricel Cabus, 24-22, 22-20. Earlier, they downed the UM-Davao, 21-18, 21-19.
With their win, Desierto and Penaflorida set up a meeting with University of the Visayas’s Janez Igot and Jusabelle Brillo, who made it to the next phase following their 21-11, 21-23, 15-13 victory over Sherrilyn Carrillo and Jane Jarin of Far Eastern University.
In men’s play, Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, FEU, University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and Foundation University also advanced to the next round by pulling off contrasting wins.
MSU-Tawi-Tawi’s Gabshar Tahilluddin and Yusop Abdulkarim easily disposed of Eric Genil and Alvin Medina of Philippine Christian University, 21-11, 21-13, while FEU’s Joshua Alcarde and Jeremy Pedregosa downed Capitol’s Orpheus Cubillas and Kiven Escobal, 21-14, 21-13.
James Rivera and Ronald Melencion of USPF, however, went through the wringer before eking out a 21-19, 19-21, 15-11 win over St. Francis of Assissi’s Michael Manuel and Harold Pavia to stay alive. They bowed to Roderick Arenasa and Edward Tecson of University of San Carlos, 22-20, 21-19, in the earlier match.
Likewise, Rolando Agus and Arnel Madeo of Foundation hammered out a 21-19, 21-17 triumph over USC in the other match up to stay in contention after absorbing a 20-22, 19-21 defeat to St. Francis.
The finals will also be held today with the champion in the men’s and women’s divisions getting R150,000 top purse.
The event is backed by Speedo, Mikasa, Villa de Oro Boracay Beach Resort Hotel, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, Boracay Gold Crowne Club, Microtel Inns and Suites, Hey! Jude, La Salle-Greenhills, Schering Plough Coppertone and Crystal Sand.