CHAMPS. (From left) D’artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse win in the Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa, Laguna on Monday (Nov. 10, 2024). They defeated Mark Nicolaidis and Izac Carracher in the all-Australian title showdown, 21-19, 21-19.

SANTA ROSA, Laguna – In a thrilling all-Australian final, D’artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse claimed the championship at the Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships, defeating Mark Nicolaidis and Izac Carracher in straight sets, 21-19, 21-19.

The match, which took place at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa late Sunday, November 10, 2024, marked a significant milestone in their careers.

The 21-year-old Potts and 22-year-old Pearse were faced with tough competition from the more seasoned Nicolaidis and Carracher, who had previously represented Australia at the Paris Olympics. However, Potts and Pearse’s teamwork and determination carried them through, as they secured the win in just 40 minutes.

“Our team connection was really good,” Pearse said after the match. “They’re a really great team, and to beat them shows the potential that we have as a team.”

Potts echoed his teammate’s sentiment, reflecting on their journey throughout the tournament. “Jack and I just kept building from the first match, even when the games weren’t going as planned. To cap it off with a win against such a tough team is very rewarding.”

The victory was especially sweet for the young duo, who remained unbeaten throughout the five-day tournament, which featured top-ranked teams from 14 countries across Asia. In earlier rounds, Potts and Pearse demonstrated their skill by defeating the Philippines’ Lerry John Francisco and Rancel Varga in straight sets.

The women’s bronze medal in the competition went to Australia’s Jana Milutinovic and Stefanie Fejes, who triumphed over Japan’s Asami Shiba and Saki Maruyama, 21-15, 21-19. Meanwhile, Iran’s Abbas Pourasgari and Alireza Aghajanighasab clinched third place in the men’s division, beating China’s Wu Jiaxin and Ha Likejiang, 21-15, 21-17.

The event, supported by several major sponsors including Nuvali, Ayala Land, Smart, and the Philippine Sports Commission, also showcased the strength of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), which co-organized the tournament.

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