One PH Team Still Standing in FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Manila Open

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Sisi Rondina and Dzi Gervacio became the last Filipina pair standing in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Manila Open following a 21-17, 21-17 conquest of Canada's Caleigh Cruickshank and Megan Nagy in the round-of-12 yesterday at the Sands SM By The Bay. 

     

With modest expectations of playing well against international, battle-tested sand court veterans, Gervacio was satisfied things went with her maiden partnership with Rondina in the one-star tournament.

     

"Ako, hindi ko talaga inii-expect na malayo ang mararating namin. Na aabot kami ng Day 2," said Gervacio, one of Beach Volleyball Republic’s co-founders. "Kasi, ako personally, I haven't trained internationally. And I know for a fact na matatangkad ang kalaban natin. But from the get-go, noong nakalaban namin ang USA, alam ko may pag-asa tayo."

     

Rondina and Gervacio compensated for the size disadvantage with solid defense in the sand and by playing smart.

       

It was Rondina and Gervacio's second win in the one-star tournament following last Friday's 21-12, 21-16 conquest of the United States' Lindsey Fuller and Kaley Melville at the women's main draw opener.

     

Also, the duo somehow avenged the loss of their fellow Filipina bets Charo Soriano and Bea Tan to their Canadian opponents, 12-21, 15-21, in the losers' bracket Friday that eliminated them in the tournament.

       

Earlier, the Philippines' other remaining hope, Lot Catubag and Karen Quilario of the PNP, bowed out after a heartbreaking 34-36, 23-25, 15-17 loss to Thailand's Thatsarida Singchuea and Pawarun Chanthawichai.

     

Catubag and Quilario were in match point late in the second frame and twice in the deciding set, but the pair from Tagum could not close out against the young Thai duo, the newly-minted Asian U19 beach volleyball champions.

     

"More teamwork and more practice," said Quilario after the match. 

     

After Thailand went at match point, the Philippines needed a medical timeout as Catubag went down with cramps. She eventually returned to the sand, but the Thais were able to complete the kill in the tournament's most exciting match that sent every set to extension.

     

If given the chance to play more FIVB World Tour events outside the country, the reigning two-time Beach Volleyball Republic national champions are willing to join to gain more experience.

     

"Gusto naming maglaro kahit saan para exposure na rin," said Quilario. 

     

"Kung bibigyan kami ng pagkakataon, iga-grab namin ang opportunity na maglaro ng ganitong level. Maraming gustong maglaro pero bihira lang ang magbigyan ng pagkakataon sa ganitong competition," said Catubag.

       

In other round of 12 matches, Germany's Lisa-Sophie Kotzan and Leonie Klinke prevailed over The Netherlands Katja Stam and Lisa Wouters, 21-11, 21-19, while the United States' Lindsey Fuller and Kaley Melville beat Norway's Janne Pedersen and Hanne Zylstra, 21-15, 21-17.

     

Men's round-of-12 action saw Spain's Javier and Alejandro Huerta upset Martin Appelgren and Simon Boman of top-seed Sweden, 24-22, 21-15, to make it to the quarters.

     

Felix Friedl and Maximillian Trummer defeated Jorg Wutzl and Simon Fruhbauer, in an all-Austrian duel, 23-21, 21-19, Russia's Petr Bakhnar and Taras Myskivsurge past Chinese Taipei Wang Chin-Ju and Hsieh Ya-Jen, 21-14, 21-8, while Australia's Marcus Fegurson and Tom Dickson swept Hong Kong's Kevib Lau Tsz Ho and Wong Pui Lam, 21-15, 21-15.

The event is promoted by E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd and organized by Beach Volleyball Republic Inc.

Yamaha GP is Back in Cebu

Wazzup Pilipinas!

 The Yamaha Grand Prix wrapped up its opening leg in Davao and is set to continue the battle at the Queen City of the South.

Team Visayas now has the home track advantage with Jaycob Cabahug, Garry Caneda, and Simon Solon ready to defend their region. Masato Fernando came out on top in the last race and is eager to keep his streak going for the Wildcard Team. Right behind him are McKinley Kyle Paz and J.E. Inguito of Team Luzon who are tied in statistical points and look to stay in the hunt for the top spot. Team Mindanao is roaring to get back on track and notch a podium finish.

The Dealer Cup race features Durraine Dan Carlos of LYR Motorhub Racing Team and John Paul Lantape of Motorace Racing Team aim for a repeat of their 1st place finish in the Expert and Intermediate categories respectively. Newnemar,Rhean Marketing, Des Marketing, and DHCI Cyclehaus are set to barge into the win column.

The all-female category has found its best rider in Davao with Shiena Mae Cuenca leading the way. Now in Cebu, a new set of ladies are vying for a spot in the finals.

The battle begins on May 19,2018 at SM City Cebu 12 nn-9 pm brought to you by Idemitsu and Racing Boy, with FDR, YSS, NGK Spark Plugs, JM Mirasol, Unioil, VS1, and Motoworld.

2 Police Officers Apprehended during Anti-Colorum Operations

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Two police officers were apprehended for driving colorum vehicles during a recent anti-colorum operation conducted last April 26, Thursday, in Paranaque and Pasay City.

Philippine National Police (PNP) officers Police Chief Inspector Juan Saldua Cipriano Jr. of the Southern Police District, and SPO4 Ronnie Arimbuyutan Druja of the PNP Aviation Security Group, were caught driving unmarked vehicles disguised as passenger vans. Apart from driving colorum vehicles, the vans were also marked with stickers from the Office of the President. 

Both officers are confirmed to be in active service.

Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade expressed his dismay over the incident, while reassuring the public that anti-colorum operations will continue.

“Nakakalungkot na kung sino pa iyong mga dapat nagpapatupad ng batas ay sila pa ang mismong lumalabag. Akalain mo, imbes na protektahan ang mga tao gaya ng sinumpaan nila, lalo pa nilang nilalagay sa alanganin ang buhay ng mga pasahero dahil sa pag-drive ng colorum. Mismong si Pangulong Duterte na ang nagsabi na alisin ang colorum sa kalsada, at ‘yan ang gagawin natin,” said Tugade.

DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) Chairman Tim Orbos has already reported the incident to PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde for appropriate sanctions. 

“The apprehension of police officers who were moonlighting as drivers of colorum vans is truly unfortunate. They are supposed to be our partners in the anti-colorum effort, but they are the ones violating it,” Orbos lamented.

Both vehicles have been impounded by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Joint operations by the I-ACT and LTFRB led to the apprehension of the police officers, along with 57 motorists apprehended for smoke belching, 35 for violating the “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” campaign, and six other colorum vehicles that were impounded by the LTFRB.

The number of violators caught is the highest number recorded in a single day of operations.