Far Eastern University secured one of the two remaining Final Four berths in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Beach Volleyball Tournament as Melody Pons and Lovely Lopez defeated Ateneo’s Liz Lomocso and Gry Matibag, 21-16, 21-18, Friday at Sands SM By The Bay.
The Lady Tamaraws had earlier dominated University of the Philippines’ Jum Gayo and Kryssia Ornos, 21-12, 21-18, in the morning session to strengthen their hold on solo third place with a 4-2 record. FEU had finished third last season.
Final Four-bound squads University of Santo Tomas and National University maintained unbeaten records, each at 6-0, after dispatching their respective opponents. They are set to clash Saturday morning at 7 a.m. to determine the top two rankings after the eliminations.
UST’s Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella cruised past Gayo and Ornos, 21-7, 21-9, while NU’s reigning MVP Honey Grace Cordero and Kizil Quijote overwhelmed University of the East’s Van Bangayan and Krisha Revilla, 21-10, 21-10.
Ateneo and UP, both at 3-3, will face off at 8:30 a.m. in what has become a virtual do-or-die match for the last women’s Final Four spot.
Earlier, Lomocso and Matibag had kept Ateneo in contention with a 21-15, 24-22 victory over Adamson University’s Shai Nitura and Fhei Sagaysay.
Despite being out of the Final Four race, the Lady Falcons still shone, as Nitura, paired with rookie Lana Barrera, claimed a 21-19, 17-21, 15-7 win over De La Salle’s Mica Buis and Ela Raagas, their second victory in six matches.
Meanwhile, the Lady Warriors and Lady Spikers remain winless after six games.
On the men’s side, seven-peat-seeking UST and NU, both perfect at 6-0, are gearing up for their 10 a.m. Saturday showdown while preparing for Sunday’s Final Four.
UST’s Dom Gabito and rookie Smael Salon overpowered UE’s Julian Celestial and Edesson Lusaya, 21-12, 21-11, while NU’s Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino defeated Adamson’s Iverson Tan and Willie Hitones, 21-17, 21-13.
FEU’s bid for the men’s Final Four stalled after Reynan Postorioso and Kyle Retiza fell to De La Salle’s Von Marata and Andrei Espejo, 16-21, 17-21, failing to follow up their morning 19-21, 21-17, 15-11 win over Tan and Hitones.
Ateneo strengthened its Final Four chances as Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio defeated UP’s Angelo Lipata and John Torotoro, 21-12, 21-18.
The Tamaraws and the Blue Eagles are now tied for third and fourth at 3-3, ahead of the Falcons, the Green Spikers, and the Fighting Maroons, all at 2-4.
Lipata and Torotoro were unable to sustain the momentum from their 19-21, 21-19, 17-15 win over Marata and Espejo.
Other final-day men’s matches—FEU vs. UP, Ateneo vs. UE, and Adamson vs. La Salle—carry major implications for the last two Final Four spots.
A playoff for the final berth will be held in the afternoon if ties occur for the No. 4 spot.
