Tan-Rodriguez, Abdilla-Lopez tandems rule beach volley tilt

THE pairs of Bea Tan and Dij Rodriguez and Ranran Abdilla and Jessie Lopez copped the women’s and men’s titles in the Beach Volleyball Republic on Tour Amazing Puerto Galera Dreamwave Open on Sunday at the Dreamwave White Beach in Mindoro.

Representing Team Amazing Puerto Galera, Tan and Rodriguez capped their debut as partners with a masterful 21-15, 21-14 conquest of Team XentroMall’s Derie Rosales and MJ Ebro.

Abdilla and Lopez, also of Team Amazing Puerto Galera, fashioned out a 21-17, 21-14 victory Team XentroMall’s KR Guzman and Krung Arbasto, for a perfect campaign.

Finishing with a 4-0 record, Tan and Rodriguez overpowered Team Dreamwave’s Roma Joy and Roma Mae Doromal, 21-12, 21-13, earlier in the day.

In the final, Tan and Rodriguez were simply scintillating in producing well-placed shots at the net, defense and service to prevail.

Tan actually ruled the tournament for the second straight time, having won the Puerto Galera Championship with Charo Soriano last year.

Rosales and Ebro, members of University of Santo Tomas’s deep beach volleyball pool, topped the Doromal sisters, 21-16, 21-15, to make it to the championship game.

Abdilla and Lopez scored a 21-18, 2115 victory over Team Dreamwave’s Kevin Juban and Raphy Abanto to arrange a title duel with Guzman and Arbasto.

Playing under brutal noontime heat, Guzman and Arbasto bested Jade Becaldo and Fort Llores, 21-13, 21-18. Becaldo and Llores, first time playing together, achieved a podium finish.

Play stopped in the second set of the men’s championship match, as Guzman felt discomfort in his body when the AbdillaLopez pair was leading, 15-12. The game was eventually resumed, as Guzman tried to put up a valiant fight to no avail.

The second leg of the beach volleyball circuit will be held at Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, on March 23 and 24.