IT’S an all-Australian title match in the women’s division of the the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open.
Two Japanese tandems, meanwhile, dispute the final spot on the podium.
Stefanie Fejes and Jan Milutinovic overcame a tough challenge from Suzuka Hashimoto and Reika Murakami of Japan, 21-12, 21-18, Sunday at the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts by Ayala Land in the City of Santa Rosa.
Jasmine Fleming and Georgia Johnson defeated Japan’s Asami Shiba and Saki Maruyama, 21-17, 21-17, to assure Australia of a 1-2 finish.
Suzuka and Reika collide with Shiba and Maruyama in the bronze medal match of the event backed by Foton, Akari, Mikasa, Senoh, Seda, Asics, Cignal, One Sports, One Sports+ and Pilipinas Live.
Fejes said they were wary of the Japanese pair, which they have played several times recently including one that stretched to three sets.
“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.
Now the Aussies reset and refocus for an all-important matchup against very familiar foes.
“We’ll definitely go back and watch the footage and come in to work with a fresh perspective,” Milutinovic said.
“We’ve played them many times so it’s gonna be difficult to separate what we know from the past and what we want to do,” she added.
In men’s play, Thailand’s Tipjan Pithak and Taovato Poravid held off Australua’s D’Artagnan Potts and Ben Hood, 21-15, 18-21, 15-11, in the tournament organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation led by Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
They advance to the final against Iran’s Abbas Pourasgari and Alireza Aghajanighasab, who defeated Thailand’s Surin Jongklang and Dunwinit Kaewsai, 21-13, 21-17.
Potts and Hood clash for the bronze against Surin and Dunwinit.