BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA AND JONAS TERRADO
THE Philippine men’s beach volleyball teams opened their medal campaigns on a bright note with easy victories against Timor Leste on Friday in the 30th Southeast Asian Asian Games at the Subic sand courts.
The duo of James Buytrago and Jaron Requinton carved out a 21-13, 21-16 win over Robson Xavier and Christian Jean before the PH 2 tandem of Jude Garcia and Edgar Bonono clobbered Silvano Auduauo and Denyanos Belo 21-7, 21-16.
Up next for the Filipino spikers will be Malaysia on Sunday in this eight-team field vying for a spot in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the women’s pairs of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, and Dzi Gervacio and Dij Rodriguez are playing against Indonesian counterparts at press time.
Rondina and Pons battle Putu Utami and Dhita Juliana while Gervacio and Rodriguez clash with Allysah Mutakharah and Desi Ratnasari.
Each victory in the women’s division is crucial in this knockout game among six teams.
The Philippines is not only seeking a podium finish but also a spot in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Continental Cup set next year.
The last time the country won a medal was in the 2005 edition where Fil-Ams Diane Ilustre and Heidi Pascua settled for bronze.
FLOORBALL TEAMS LOSE
Meantime, the national men’s and women’s team were eliminated from gold medal contention after losing to Singapore in Thursday’s floorball competitions at the College of Human Kinetics Gym inside the University of the Philippines campus.
The Philippines fell 5-2 in the men’s division and 8-1 in the distaff side by the winners of the last floorball events held in 2015, thus dropping to 1-2 and a place in the bronze match of both categories against Malaysia on Sunday.
Both teams were facing the Malaysians at presstime in a preview of the match for a spot in the podium.
Their only wins came against Indonesia with the women’s side prevailing 8-1 and the men’s squad posting a 5-4 triumph.
They dropped their next match against Thailand with the men’s falling 14-4 and the women’s dropping a 6-3 decision.
Composing the men’s team are captain Lucas Oijvall, Jan Claude Vitaliano, Luis Manila III, Jan Bryant Arocena, Renzo Fabon, Fredrick Erik Dahmen, Carl Christian and John Patrick Schoultze, Jason Florentino, Jayson Palinsad, Henielee Pastor, Yves Daniel Gelangre, Christofer Holland, Henrick Hans Harold Dahmen, Hazzer Talingdan, Russel Vincent Alido, Ysaac Mico Gelangre, Aristeo Perol and Ralph Andrew Ramos.
Team captain Jade Ariadne Rivera leads the women’s team with Candy Noreen Lynnelle Pellejera, Edelyn Grace Embile, Sara Elizabeth Hemmingberg, Jestine Mariano, Roxane Christel Ruiz, Sarah Samonte, Michele Loraine Simpson and Maria PIa Mikaela Tolentino part of the roster.
Other members of the team are Annica Angela Dolores Bengtsson, Michelle Anne Cruzado, Jemarie, Jerymae and Jerylou Berdan, Marie Clarisse and Marie Denisse Satuito, Michell Jennifer Lindahl and Cherrylyn Romarate.
