MANILA – Negrense Bea Tan and Dij Rodriguez of Perlas Lady Spikers rediscovered their old form to bag the women’s championship of the Beach Volleyball Republic On Tour Lingayen Open at the Capitol Beachfront in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
Tan and Rodriguez captured on Wednesday their third tiara in four BVR on Tour legs this year after defeating Ilongga Roma Joy Doromal and Kly Orillaneda of NU-Boysen 1 in the finals, 21-12, 21-15.
The coronation was a bounce back for Tan and Rodriguez after settling for a runner-up finish over the weekend in the Dumaguete leg against University of Santo Tomas’ Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor.
Ilonggas Jackie Estoquia and DM Demontaño of Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors, returning for the first time since the Santa Ana Open in Cagayan last year, were on third place with a 21-14, 21-17 victory over Air Force 1’s May Ann Pantino and Jozza Cabalsa.
Meanwhile, the comebacking pair of Mike Abria and Jade Becaldo took the men’s division championship after besting NU Boysen’s James Buytrago and Pol Salvador, 21-19, 21-18.
Trailing 13-15 in the second frame, Becaldo used his solid net defense to give Air Force an 18-16 lead, while Abria produced the key hits to help their partnership prevail and capture their first beach volleyball title in six years.
Randy Fallorina, one of the Philippine beach volleyball legends, provided the biggest inspirational story in the Lingayen open as he combined with Jason Uy in Army 2’s third place finish.
The 39-year old Fallorina, currently an Army coach delivered flashes of brilliance, as he and Uy powered their squad’s 15-21, 21-16, 17-15 victory over Fury’s Pemie Bagalay and Greg Utopo./PN
