Squires, Jasper Afgao and Jessel Nimo, celebrate a match point in the NCAA Season 100 Beach Volleyball Tournament. Photo courtesy of NCAA Philippines.
Unfazed strategies and tactics helped the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Squires seal the bronze medal match against Mapua University Red Robins, 21-13, 21-15 in the NCAA Season 100 Juniors Beach Volleyball Tournament held on Sunday at the Sand Court Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Subic, Zambales.
After falling short in a do-or-die against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Brigadiers, the Junior crew from Intramuros redeemed themselves in two rapid sets against Mapua. The duo of Jasper Afgao and Jessel Nimo outpaced their opponents with combined hustle and attack touches.
The Squires, who already achieved bronze a season ago, had to deliver extra work in the field to guarantee their place in the semifinals as they shared an even record with Jose Rizal University and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Junior Altas.
In their last elimination match, they emerged victorious at the expense of JRU light bombers, pulling off a 21-14, 21-16, match.
Heading into the playoffs, the CSJL juniors remained valiant while facing a twice-to-beat hurdle, besting the defending champions and the second-seeded EAC Brigadiers in a three-set thriller, 17-21, 21-17, 15,12. They former, eventually, got relegated to the bronze match in their deciding bout.
The Squires managed to stand third in the podium after producing a 6-3 record at the end of the elimination round with losses to other final four casts EAC, Arellano, and Mapua.
Letran’s younger squad looked promising in this centennial season’s beach volleyball tourney under the helm of head coach Brian Esquibel. They will once again prepare to continue this successful run in the indoor edition of the competition.