CANDON CITY — National University’s Kly Orillaneda and Kathrina Epa pulled off a thrilling 21-17, 17-21, 15-11 victory over Bacolod’s Bianca Lizares and Honey Grace Cordero to capture the women’s crown via six-match sweep in the Beach Volleyball Republic on Tour Candon City leg Sunday at Darapidap Beach here.
It was Orillaneda and Epa’s first BVR on Tour crown as a pair, but not without experiencing some scary moments.
In the men’s division, Harbor Pilot’s Ranran Abdilla and Rancel Varga downed NU’s Pol Salvador and Alex Iraya, 21-13, 21-10, to complete a perfect 5-0 campaign.
After dropping the opening set, Bacolod raced to a 14-7 second set lead and never looked back to force a decider.
Bacolod took a 9-6 third set advantage after a Cordero kill but NU stormed back and grabbed a 11-10 lead after Lizares was whistled with a double contact violation.
On their way to the championship, Orillaneda and Epa swept Pool c made short work of Ateneo 1’s Gena Hora and Yumi Furukawa, 21-17, 21-13, in the quarterfinals and Ateneo 2’s Jana Cane and Liz Lomocso, 21-17, 21-13, in the semis.
Despite the Finals loss, the second place was the best finish for Lizares, the 5-foot-7 BVR regular who started competing in the tour in the Santa Fe, Bantayan Island in March 2018 with Jennifer Cosas as her partner. Cordero, on the other hand, is a BVR on Tour debutant.
West V’s Tan and Cosas defeated Ateneo 2’s Cane and Lomocso, 21-14, 21-19, to secure the bronze medal, and rebound from a 11-21, 21-17, 10-15 semis loss to Bacolod’s Lizares and Cordero.
