MANILA – Abanse Negrense Team A emerged as the new queens of the sand court after ruling the 2021 Gatorade-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup on Sunday at the Subic Bay sands court in Subic, Zambales.
The fancied tandem of Alexa Polidario and Erjane Magdato clinched the beach volleyball tiara following a 21-15, 21-17 victory over Ilonggas DM Demontano and Jackie Estoquia of Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors A in the finals.
Abanse Negrense A surged to a 12-9 start in the first set with down-the-line hits by Magdato and a crosscourt attack by Polidario. The Negrense’s lead grew to 18-14 before they took the set on costly errors by the Lady Realtors.
The Lady Realtors took a 10-8 edge in the second set but was quickly erased by Abanse Negrense A for a 13-11 lead. The game was tied at 14-all before Magdato and Polidario went for the finishing blows to sweep the championship match.
“Para sa akin opo (inexpect namin maging champion) kasi every day talaga kaming nagti-train ng team ko talagang pinaghandaan namin itong PSL,” said Polidario, who bolted out of Creamline Cool Smashers’ national beach volleyball team to play for Abanse Negrense.
“I’m so thankful and blessed to be part of the PSL’s return. Winning the championship is just a bonus,” added Magdato, a seasoned beach volleyball campaigner from the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos.
On their way to the semifinals round, Polidario and Magdato ousted Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors B tandem of Shiela Pineda and Jonah Sabete, 21-18, 21-12, while Demontano and Estoquia edged Abanse Negrense B’s Jennifer Cosas and Gelimae Villanueva, 21-18, 16-21, 15-9.
Cosas and Villanueva, meanwhile, salvaged a bronze medal finish for the Abanse Negrense B as they defeated Pineda and Sabete of Lady Realtors B, 21-13, 22-20, in the third-place game.
Negrenses Jennymar Senares and Kyla Gallego of F2 Logistics Cargo Movers ended the tournament in fifth place by beating Ella Viray and Theresa Ramas of United Auctioneers Incorporated, 21-14, 21-11.
Javen Sabas and Jonah San Pedro of Toby’s Sports toppled Christina Canares and Ariane Alarcon of Kennedy Solar Energy-Petro Gazz, 21-14, 21-14, to finish the competition at seventh place./PN
