Adamson University and University of the East claimed the last two semis spots in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Beach Volleyball Tournament.
Adamson’s Brice Malinao and James Bernabe downed Far Eastern University-Diliman’s Sam Coronel and Kenneth Maliwanag, 21-19, 21-14, on Friday at Sands, SM By The Bay to finish third with a 5-2 record and set up a semifinals duel with defending champion University of Santo Tomas at 8:45 a.m.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, UE clinched the remaining semis slot after Mharl Dullete and Cedie Camposano made short work of Ateneo’s Ymanuel Cervantes and Miguel Avendano, 21-10, 21-9.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UST’s Mark Bihag and JP Apidian lost to National University Nazareth School’s Kian Tan and Ethan Jadraque, 18-21, 13-21, in the finale.
The Bullpups, who went undefeated at 7-0 this season, will face the Junior Warriors at 8:40 a.m. The Junior Warriors finished at 4-3, eliminating the Baby Tamaraws (3-4) in the process.
The one-off finals for both divisions are set for 3:30 p.m., while the bronze medal matches will begin at 2 p.m. UE made a huge turnaround after managing only one win last year.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the girls’ division, Adamson will face defending girls champion NUNS in a much-anticipated semis clash after Maegan Pineda and Ella Gonzalvo defeated FEU-Diliman’s Franz Premaylon and Alexa Amana, 21-11, 21-13, to close out the eliminations as the No. 2 team.
The Baby Falcons finished with a 6-1 record, a game ahead of the Bullpups, who settled for third place at 5-2.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
NUNS’ Faith Mangyao and Alaiza Candelario fell to University of Santo Tomas’ Cheng Dadang and Angelica Del Mar, 14-21, 16-21.
Adamson and NUNS will meet in the semis at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. The Baby Falcons, whose highest finish was second place when high school beach volleyball was a demonstration sport in Season 85 (2023), stunned the Lady Bullpups in three sets in the very first match of the season on February 13.
The 7-0 Tiger Sands, two wins away from completing a redemption season, will take on the 4-3 Baby Tamaraws in the other half of the semis at 10:15 a.m.
In other girls’ matches, De La Salle-Zobel secured fifth place at 3-4 after Aislinn Alemaña and Tessa Bonafe outlasted UP Integrated School’s Anya Capus and Niña Abad, 19-21, 21-14, 15-12.
The Fighting Maroons closed the season in sixth place at 2-5.
Ateneo finally recorded its first win as Lou Anne Atienza and Jelena Dait needed three sets to defeat UE’s Janella Mangahis and Nicole Agustin, 16-21, 21-13, 15-9.
The Junior Warriors finished the season winless at 0-7.
In the boys’ division, UPIS’ Marco Bamba and Prince Jimenez ended their season on a high note, sweeping De La Salle-Zobel’s Luis Papa and Brett Urriquia, 21-16, 21-11. – TJ
