FEU's Garcia, Hadlocon stun UAAP beach volley titleholders Bagunas, Natividad of NU

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University and University of the East swept their opening-day assignments in the UAAP Season 81 men’s beach volleyball tournament on Monday at the Sands by the Bay in Pasay City. Tamaraws Jude Garcia and Kevin Hadlocon opened the tournament with a huge 25-23, 21-17 upset over defending champions Bryan Bagunas and James Natividad of National University, before beating Nico Consuelo and Mac Millete of University of the Philippines, 21-8, 21-13. “Siyempre masayang masaya po kasi last year hindi po kami nanalo sa NU, kamuntikan lang, pero pinagpursigihan namin tapos tinyaga namin ng tinyaga para makuha namin ‘yung panalo ngayon,” Garcia said. “Maganda na talaga ‘yung kundisyon namin sa isip, sa katawan parang lahat kundisyon.” Sand Tigers’ Krung Arbasto, who won silver last year with KR Guzman, is off to strong start with new partner Jaron Requinton as they beat Ateneo's Kurt Aguilar and Abai Llenos, 21-11, 21-14, and La Salle’s Geraint Bacon and Raprap Sumalinog, 21-8, 21-11. “Ngayon ang saya namin kasi kahit slow yung start ng ensayo namin, hindi kami masyado nakakapag communicate kasi nga ‘yung barrier ng first year at saka fifth year parang ang hirap sa chemistry namin,” said Arbasto. “Bago partner ko pero kailangan ko bumaba sa pagiging senior para makaabot sila sa naabot ko rin so parang ginaguide ko rin sila para umangat sila tsaka ‘yung experience nila gumaling din.” FEU and UST will stake their unbeaten records on Tuesday afternoon. UE's Clifford Inoferio and Alven Aljas beat La Salle's Bacon and Sumalinog, 21-19, 21-16, and Ateneo’s Aguilar and Llenos, 21-14, 22-20. Bagunas and Natividad of NU, meanwhile, vented their ire on Paolo Pablico and Jesus Valdez of Adamson, 21-16, 21-19, while the Falcons took down the Maroons, 24-22, 21-14. Ateneo, La Salle and UP are winless in two matches.