SANTA ANA, Cagayan – Creamline 1’s Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons carved out a 21-10, 21-10 victory over Black Mamba-Army 1’s Nene Bautista and Jeannie delos Reyes to secure the first semis berth in the women’s division of the BVR on Tour second leg Saturday (Oct. 30).
It took only 28 minutes for Rondina and Pons to move two wins away from annexing a second consecutive championship in the bubble, where the prolific Cool Smashers pair have yet to drop a set since last week’s opening leg.
Creamline 2’s Dij Rodriguez and Dzi Gervacio dodged the upset ax as they upended the hard-fighting Delimondo duo of MJ Ebro and Bianca Lizares, 21-17, 18-21, 15-10, to join fellow national team standouts Rondina and Pons in the semifinals.
Despite a 1-3 record in pool play, Ebro and Lizares were still able to make it to the quarterfinals for the first time in the bubble – giving Rodriguez and Gervacio everything to handle in the intense 44-minute match before falling short.
Rodriguez and Gervacio won the women’s Pool B via a five-match sweep, but not after surviving a gallant second set stand by Bautista and Delos Reyes, 21-14, 21-18.
Also making it to Sunday’s (Oct. 31) semis are PLDT’s Ella and Iza Viray, who bested Biogenic’s Roma Joy Doromal and Heather Guino-o, 21-13, 21-18, and Sta. Lucia 1’s Jackie Estoquia and DM Demontaño, who topped Sta. Lucia 2’s Bang Pineda and Chay Troncoso, 21-9, 11-21, 15-4.
Morente and Samonte grinded it out with a 21-18, 19-21, 15-10 win over the Viray twins to tie Bautista and Delos Reyes in third place in Pool B at 2-3. The victory also secured Eastern Perlas Spikers a second straight quarterfinals stint.
Estoquia and Demontaño, who progressed to the top eight after missing the cut in the opening leg, made short work of Black Mamba Army-2’s Jem Gutierrez and Audrey Paran, 21-11, 21-12, to finish second in Pool A at 3-1.
Doromal and Guino-o rallied from a set down to beat Ebro and Lizares, 18-21, 21-18, 15-11, to finish with a 2-2 record in Pool A, and made it past the pool rounds for the second time in a row.
Pineda and Troncoso took their third win in four Pool B matches after besting against Nicole Tiamzon and Jho Maraguinot of Toyota Tuguegarao, 21-17, 21-17.
In the men’s division, James Pecaña and AJ Pareja powered Tuguegarao to its first semis appearance with a 21-13 21-14 romp over DeliRush 2’s Nichol Jundana and Jeffer Guerrero.
Thriving in three-setter matches in the second leg, Pecaña and Pareja outlasted Barrica and Uy, 21-15, 17-21, 17-15, giving Tuguegarao a four-match sweep of Pool A.
Creamline 1’s Krung Arbasto and Jude Garcia, also vying for a second straight title, tripped Army 2’s Jason Uy and Josh Barrica, 21-13, 21-18, to march to the semifinals.
Garcia and Arbasto dominated Pool B via a 4-0 sweep with a 21-8, 21-12 dismantling of Orchard Fresh’s Rhenze Hu and Benjaylo Labide.
EVI Construction also barged into the semi-finals as KR Guzman and Doy Barrica eliminated DeliRush 1’s Evan Laraya and Joven Camaganakan, 21-12, 21-18.
Negros Occidental Beach Volleyball Club completed the semis as Deanne Neil de Pedro and Eljhay Ronquillo made quick work of Army 1’s Randy Fallorina and Joel Villonson, 21-15, 21-18.
Fallorina and Villonson also made it to the quarters after topping Jundana and Guerrero, 21-15, 22-20, ending their Pool B stint with a 2-2 slate.
Laraya and Camaganakan advanced to the knockout rounds after a 22-20, 21-14 tripping of de Pedro and Ronquillo, who was able to finish the match despite a bad fall in the first set. DeliRush 1 and Negros Occidental ended up tied at 2-2. (BVR) – bny
