James Buytrago and Rancel Varga expressed delight and gratefulness despite settling for the silver medal in the FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures on Sunday.
The Filipinos put on a gallant fight, giving Czech Republic’s Krystof Jan Oliva and Vaclav Kurka a big scare before losing steam, 21-16, 16-21, 13-15, at the Nuvali Sand Courts by Ayala Land in the City of Santa Rosa.
“We fell short, but we are grateful for the experience,” Buytrago said.
Germany’s Chenoa Christ and Anna-Lena Grüne won the women’s title, beating Alaina Chacon and Mariah Whalen of the US, 21-12, 13-21, 15-12.
Toms Liepa and Ernests Puskundzis of Latvia bagged the men’s bronze, beating Turkey’s Hasan Huseyin Mermer and Kurt Sacit, 22-20, 21-10.
Japan’s Riko Tsujimura and Takemi Nishibori defeated New Zealand’s Danielle Quigley and Olivia MacDonald, 21-14, 15-21, 15-12, in the women’s bronze medal match of the event in the event backed by Smart Communications, Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Senoh, Mikasa, Foton Motor Philippines Inc. and Seda Nuvali.
Varga and Buytrago earlier Sunday defeated Toms Liepa and Ernests Puskundzis of Latvia, 21-14, 21-16, in the semifinals.
The Cebuano pair overpowered the Latvian team that they also defeated in straight sets in pool play of the tournament featuring 38 teams from 16 countries.
“But we still considered ourselves the underdogs,” Buytrago said. “It’s an entirely different match, anything can happen so we approach it like any other match.”
Varga, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Saturday when they beat Japan’s Yusuke Ishijima and Kensuke Shoji of Japan in straight sets in the quarterfinals, is glad the sacrifices are paying off for the team.
“We knew the task at hand and we knew we could not waste opportunities like this. We went to bed early, woke up refreshed and ready to play,” Varga said.
Previous University Athletic Association of the Philippines rivals, Varga and Buytrago now add to the Philippines’ recent achievements in beach volleyball.
In the FIVB World Beach Pro Tour Futures Subic in December 2022, the Philippines went 1-2 in the women’s division, with Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga earning the gold by beating Gen Eslapor and Floremel Rodriguez.
Eslapor now competes with Kly Orillaneda, the duo bowing out of pool play in Santa Rosa.
