Abdilla, Varga still untouchable; Cordero, Doromal rule BVR

MANILA, Philippines – Harbor Pilot’s Ranran Abdilla and Rancel Varga still proved too hard to stop. 

Solid as ever, Abdilla and Varga pulled off another perfect run to capture their second straight men’s championship in the Sipalay City leg of the Beach Volleyball Republic on Tour on Sunday, June 25 at the Poblacion Beach.

Abdilla and Varga topped Toto de Pedro and Eljhay Ronquillo of Abanse Negrense, 21-15, 21-11, to log an untouchable 5-0 record without dropping a set.

In women’s action, Grass to Bone’s Honey Grace Cordero and Roma Joy Doromal also went undefeated in five after fending off Abanse Negrense’s Bea Tan and Jennifer Cosas, 21-15, 21-17, in the finale.

Following up their Candon City conquest, Abdilla and Varga beat Ateneo’s Amil Pacinio and Jian Salarzon, 21-12, 21-10, in the semifinals, right after pulling off a 21-10, 21-6 romp of Allaine Tejares and John Carl Araneta of D’Prints in the quarterfinals.

The 6-foot-4 Abdilla now has six BVR on Tour titles on his belt, while Varga took home his fourth gold.

De Pedro and Ronquillo subdued Beach Volleyball Manila’s AJ Pareja and Vincent Nadera, 21-15, 21-14, in the other half of the Final Four.

Meanwhile, it was Cordero and Doromal’s first championship. Cordero, the UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year from NU, placed second with her partner Bianca Lizares for Bacolod in last week’s Candon City leg.

Doromal, on the other hand, missed the semifinals with Cherilyn Sindayen as her partner.

Cordero and Doromal rallied from a set down to beat UNO-R’s Gelimae Villanueva and Kyla Gallego, 16-21, 21-15, 15-5, in the semifinals, right after repulsing DLSU’s Matet Espina and Maicah Larroza, 21-16, 21-16, in the quarters.

Tan and Cosas, who placed third in Candon City, outlasted Preska’s Lizares and MJ Ebro, 21-17, 21-23, 15-8, in the other semifinals.

Villanueva and Gallego finished third in the women’s side, while Pacinio and Salarzon reached the men’s podium, surpassing their fourth place in Candon City. – Rappler.com