Manila, Philippines, May 4, 2018 – Paraguay’s Erika Bobadilla/Michelle Valiente, Japan’s Ayumi Kusano/Takemi Nishibori and Sakurako Fujii/Shinako Tanaka and Spain’s Maria Carro/Paula Soria snatched an early advantage as they secured the first four quarterfinal berths in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Manila Open.
The Paraguayan top seeds made a strong start and showed top form on Friday to dominate Pool A by beating the Philippines’ Dhannylaine Demontano/Jackielyn Estoquia 2-0 (21-19, 21-13) and Thailand’s Pawarun Chanthawichai/Thatsarida Singchuea 2-0 (21-12, 21-17).
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Japanese pairs Kusano/Take and Tanaka/Sakurako reigned in Pool B and Pool C, respectively. Kusano/Take outplayed the Philippines Maria Rosario Soriano/Maria Beatriz Tan 2-0 (21-10, 21-9) and Norway’s Hanne Haugen Zylstra/Janne Pedersen 2-0 (21-13, 21-18), while Tanaka/Sakurako succeeded against Hong Kong’s Wai Yan Au Yeung/Ting Chi Yuen 2-1 (21-15, 13, 21-15-9) and the Netherlands’ Katja Stam/Julia Wouters 2-0 (21-14, 21-18).
Spain’s Soria/Carro opened their campaign with a win over South Africa’s Luciana Pierangeli/Simone Sittig 2-0 (21-18, 21-9) and seized the next victory against the Philippines’ Angeline Gervacio/Cherry Rondina 2-0 (22-20, 23-21) in Pool D.