GENERAL Santos City — Local bets MJ and Mindanao State University used their home court advantage in scoring upset wins against the visiting teams from Davao City at the opening of the Tunafest 2010 Beach Volley Challenge last September 18 at the Queen Tuna Park here.
The pair of MJ’s Jessa Mae Padilla and Merry Grell Susoban shocked the early top-favorite duo of JSM-A’s Liezl Manatad and Analyn Diaz from Davao, 21-14 for its second straight win with no loss in the women’s division.
MJ earlier whipped JSM-B’s Licelle Joy Cerosales and Elvie Mariquit,
21-18.Veteran Princess Tupaz and Jeycel Dys Esnardo of MSU shared the limelight by crushing two separate rivals to tie MJ for the lead.
MSU first demolished GH’s Honey Mae Miomio and Giscelle Tilad, 21-11 before nipping Comet’s Sheira Bantugan and Noemi Catherine Pialago, 23-21.
In the men’s division, Banana Peel and JSM are tied for the lead with identical 2-1 win-loss cards.
Banana Peel Davao’s Joe Ryan Cagabihon and Dranded Llanes started with a 21-12 victory over Holy Trinity College-B but lost to JSM, 17-21. They bounced back with a 21-18 win over Volleybolista-B’s Rommnick Reco and Joel Umbod, 21-18.
JSM’s Roldan Luyao and Mark Palasan started with a 14-21 setback from the hands of HTC-A’s James Tupas and Michael Remotigue before coming back with back-to-back wins against Banana Peel, 21-17 and Volleybolista-A’s Tristan Ian Rebueno and Jeorist Canade, 21-18.
The games will resume early today at 6 a.m. according to Christian “Dong” Gonzales, officer-in-charge of the City Mayor’s Office-City Sports and Games Development Division. The champion will earn P5,000, second P3,000 and third P2,000 plus trophies and medals.
Mayor Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio will award them together with representatives from the co-sponsors – Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Inc. marketing head Neb Bulaclac, PPPI Retail Territory Manager Ryan Diamante, Phoenix Tubes Account Manager Glenn Te Eng Fo, Phoenix Lubes Erwin Tuazon and Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils. Inc. Account Developer Jan Michael Isubal. [LITO DELOS REYES]
