The strong winds and rainfall playing with the sun didn’t stop UAAP Season 74 Beach Volleyball Tournament to unfold once more at the hostile grounds of the University of the East-Caloocan sand courts.
As newly-minted Beach Spikers Michele Therese Gumabao, rookie Camille Cruz and reinforcement Abigail Maraño finished the September 7 eliminations with a 3-2 win-loss record.
From indoor to beach volleyball, transition didn’t go well for the Gumabao-Cruz tandem. The duo suffered from reception errors and defensive lapses causing them the first two match-ups against tournament favourites UST and Ateneo.
“I really had a hard time with defense and reception! Playing with only two people in the court was a big adjustment because you can’t slack off even just for one second or else you’ll lose focus,” Gumabao shared.
After the 0-2 hole, the Lady Spikers made necessary adjustments and bounced back with three consecutive wins against FEU, UP and NU. “We’re really blessed that we had three straight wins. This means that we learn from what we did wrong the first two games and hopefully we won’t stop there,” Gumabao added.
In the men’s division, however, returning Kevin De La Vega paired with southpaw Red Christensen plus reserve Myco Antonio was held to a measly 2-3 tally after five games.
Green Spikers duo compounded by inconsistency topped Ateneo before surrendering to FEU and UP. De La Vega-Christensen pair then split decisions against NU and Adamson.
The Ladies in Green found themselves tied with defending champions Lady Falcons and Lady Tamaraws at second to fifth while the Ateneo and UST lead this season’s sand skirmish with a 4-1 card. The De La Vega-Christensen dyad was sent to the bottom half of the rankings tied with State University only above winless Ateneo and National U.
Adjustment to new grounds
The tandem of Gumabao and Cruz showed their sand court mastery over the duo of Lucelle Bayron and Mary Grace Diesta of the National University, 21-9, 22-20, last September 7.
The Lady Spikers kicked-off the opening set pivoting 9-5 before hiking 11 points ahead of the Lady Bulldogs who was nailed at seven.
The Lady Bulldogs bite backed at the second frame. The Sampaloc-based squad almost snatched the set ahead at 17-20 but the Taft-based squad answered with two successive points capped by a defensive stop from Season 73 indoor volleyball Best Blocker Gumabao.
No time for play 
Adamson’s tandem of Hendrix Competente and Gilbert Longavela was all business against the Green Spikers’ duo of De La Vega and Christensen, 16-21, 9-21.
De La Vega and Christensen trailed five points early in the first set 8-13.The San Marcelino-based squad maintained the momentum sending the Green-and-White pair packing in the 16th mark.
Second set continued to go with the Soaring Falcons favour with the different drop balls and smashes sending them 10 points ahead of the Green Spikers trapped to seven. Competente-Longavela continued to maximize their strengths and claim the second set with biggest lead of 12 against DLSU.
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The Green Spikers are out to improve last year’s fifth place finish with the remaining matches between the España and Recto based squads. Meanwhile, from Season 73’s runaway bridesmaids finish, the Lady Spikers will next face the UE and the Lady Falcons for the last stretch of the eliminations.
“We have to set our minds that we’re in this to glorify God and give back to the school. Our training will always be there and of course, instructions from our coaching staff,” Gumabao ended.
Featured photo by Edmar Borromeo. More photos here.
