ILONGGAS REIGN SUPREME

SUBIC — Abanse Negrense A completed a flawless conquest of the 2021 Gatorade-Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup on Sunday as Alexa Polidario and Erjane Magdato crowned themselves as queens of the sand here.

The duo beat Sta. Lucia A’s DM Demontano and Jackie Estoquia, 21-15, 21-17, in the Final to become the first local volleyball tournament champions since the pandemic put most competitions to a halt for almost a year.

Polidario rose to the occasion, nailing the big hits including the championship-clinching attack as she and Magdato swept all their six games in the three-day tournament.

Polidario and Magdato won all their six games in the three-day tournament that was held inside a bubble camp.

“Sobrang saya. It’s a blessing kasi kahit first time namin magjoin ng ganitong league nakuha namin yung championship,” said a very emotional Polidario. “Sabi namin kanina pag championship all-out na talaga kami kaya yun all out ko talaga ginawa yung bawat puntos na yun.”

Despite a lull that ran for 11 months, Abanse Negrense A dominated the three-game pool play, eliminated Toby’s Sports in the quarterfinals Saturday and edged powerhouse Sta. Lucia B of Jonah Sabete and Bang Pineda in the semis.

Hours after losing their knockout semifinals in three sets, Jennifer Cosas and Gelimae Villanueva of Abanse Negrense B vented their ire on Sta. Lucia B, 21-13, 22-20, to bag the bronze medal.

First time partners Kyla Gallego and Jennymar Senares of F2 Logistics capped their campaign with a decent fifth place finish after beating United Auctioneers duo Ella Viray and Theresa Ramas, 21-14, 21-11.

Toby’s Sports finished at seventh place with Javen Sabas and Jonah San Pedro ending a fivegame slump with a 21-14, 21-14 victory over the winless Kennedy Solar Energy-Petro Gazz tandem of Christina Canares and Ariane Alarcon.