For four straight years, the University of Santo Tomas Tigers had to settle for a silver finish in the UAAP Men’s Beach Volleyball tournament.
This year, UST’s uncle-nephew duo of Kris Roy Guzman and Anthony Arbasto seek to break that streak, going for all the marbles this time.
The pair have been unstoppable in Season 79, cleaning up their first six matches without a single set loss. They credit their dominance to their focus on beach volleyball over the off-season. No longer a part of the UST indoor team, Guzman and Arbasto have joined numerous beach volley tournaments to prepare for the UAAP.
With a 6-0 record, the Tigers are just one win away to an outright Finals berth.
“Nagfo-focus lang po kami sa mga laban namin. Naghahanda kami ng maigi, laging nagpo-polishing. Malaking tulong po sa amin ‘yung matagal namin na pagsasama sa court. Sobrang dami po naming nakuhang experiences,” said Guzman.
“Naghahanda lang po talaga kami. Bawat laban, pinag-uusapan namin ‘yung makakalaban namin tapos during game naguusap kami para makapag-adjust lagi,” Arbasto added.
Over the past four years past, the Tigers have watched as the Bulldogs won three straight titles, and even saw the Ateneo Blue Eagles lift their first-ever beach volleyball championship.
The Tigers are having none of that this year.
“Kailangan na po talaga namin magchampion this year kasi ilang taon nang natatalo kami sa Finals. Kahit sa anong paraan – ma-sweep namin o hindi – ang goal is dumating sa Finals,” insisted Guzman.
Asked who they would like to face in the Finals, both Tigers adamantly declared they want to face NU.
“Ilang beses din kasi natalo sa kanila (NU). Gusto ko pong makabawi,” asserted Guzman, who lost twice to NU pair Edwin Tolentino and Henry Tipay in his career.
Although he was not part of those Finals teams, Arbasto wants to help his uncle get revenge.
“Siyempre gusto ko ‘rin maibawi si tito ko kaya kung pwede sana, NU makalaban namin sa Finals.”
