FINALISTS. Australians Jana Milutinovic and Stefanie Fejes beat Japan’s Suzuka Hashimoto and Reika Murakami, 21-12, 21-18, in the semifinals of the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation Beach Tour Nuvali Open in Santa Rosa, Laguna on Sunday morning (April 7, 2024). Multinovic and Fejes advanced to the finals against fellow Australians Jasmine Fleming and Georgia Johnson, who defeated Japan’s Asami Shiba and Saki Maruyama, 21-17, 21-17. (PNVF photo)
MANILA – It’s an all-Australian title match in the women’s division of the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open.
Stefanie Fejes and Jan Milutinovic overcame Japan's Suzuka Hashimoto and Reika Murakami, 21-12, 21-18, Sunday at the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts by Ayala Land in the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Jasmine Fleming and Georgia Johnson then defeated another Japanese duo in Asami Shiba and Saki Maruyama, 21-17, 21-17, to assure Australia of a 1-2 finish.
The women's final is set at 4:30 p.m.
Suzuka-Reika collided with Shiba-Maruyama in the bronze medal match.
“We knew that Japan always fights. We knew it was gonna be a big match so we went out there and played our best and we played some really good volleyball,” Fejes said.
In men’s play, Thailand’s Tipjan Pithak and Taovato Poravid held off Australia’s D’Artagnan Potts and Ben Hood, 21-15, 18-21, 15-11.
They advanced to the final, ongoing as of posting time, against Iran’s Abbas Pourasgari and Alireza Aghajanighasab, who defeated Thailand’s Surin Jongklang and Dunwinit Kaewsai, 21-13, 21-17.
Potts and Hood clashed for the bronze against Surin and Dunwinit. (PR/PNA)
