THE first-ever FIVB Beach Volleyball Manila Open drew to a close on Sunday with the team from Japan topping the women’s division
Ayumi Kusano and Takemi Nishibori put up a dominant performance over Spain’s Paula Soria and Maria Belen Carro, 21-14 and 21-18, to claim the gold medal in the four-day event held at the Sands SM By The Bay.
After the Spaniards saved three match points, Ms. Nishibori delivered the championship kill from Ms. Kusano and completed a perfect 6-0 campaign in the tournament organized by the Beach Volleyball Republic, Inc. (BVR).
“So happy. Perfect,” Ms. Kusano said following their gold medal-winning showing.
Japan overcame Spain’s height advantage with its speed and superb sand court coverage to claim the $1,000 top prize.
“We used our brains,” said Ms. Kusano, who also won the Spike for Peace invitational championship at the Philsports Arena three years ago
Paraguay’s Erika Bobadilla and Michelle Amarilla, meanwhile, got a big bounce back after missing the semis in Langkawi last week, winning the bronze at the expense of the other Japanese team made up of Tanaka Shinako and Fujii Sakurako, 21-17 and 21-16.
It was Paraguay’s first-ever medal in the FIVB World Tour, and Misses Bobadilla and Amarilla will head back to South America with a lot of great Manila memories.
The Philippines also fielded in representatives for the one-star tournament with Sisi Rondina and Dzi Gervacio making it to the quarterfinals.
Other Filipina bets were reigning BVR national champions Karen Quilario and Lot Catubag, DM Demontaño and Jackie Estoquia, and Charo Soriano and Bea Tan.
The event was promoted by E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd.
Paraguayan tandem wins bronze at FIVB Beach Volleyball Manila Open
The Paraguayan team of Erika Bobadilla and Michelle Amarilla (foreground) battled Tanaka Shinako and Fujii Sakurako of Japan for third place in the just-concluded FIVB Beach Volleyball Manila Open held at The Sands SM By The Bay at the Mall of Asia Complex. Team Paraguay beat Team Japan, 21-17 and 21-16, to take the bronze and the corresponding points that go with it. Cheered on by the crowd, Amarilla and Bobadilla said it really inspired them to play especially since they were playing away from home. “This is a breakthrough win for us because this was the first time we won a medal in the FIVB tour,” said Amarilla after their win. The event is promoted by E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd and organized by Beach Volleyball Republic, Inc.
