National University and University of Santo Tomas cruised past their respective foes to secure the two twice-to-beat slots in the UAAP Season 84 men’s beach volleyball Final Four, Friday at the Sands SM by the Bay.
The Bulldogs’ James Buytrago and Pol Salvador finished the first round with five straight victories with a 21-9, 21-9 dismantling of Adamson University’s Francis Casas and Aaron Mirador.
With two-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Jaron Requinton now being paired with MVP Rancel Varga, the Tiger Spikers topped De La Salle’s Noel Kampton and Vince Maglinao, 21-10, 21-14.
Despite ending its first round with a five-match winning streak, UST settled for the No. 2 ranking as it lost to NU in the season opener, 12-21, 21-17, 15-12.
The Bulldogs’ lone setback of the tournament came from the hands of the Green Spikers, 21-12, 15-21, 11-15.
NU will face University of the Philippines, which eliminated Ateneo, 21-12, 21-16, to secure the No. 4 ranking, in the Final Four Saturday, where UST and La Salle will meet anew, this time for a spot in the championship match.
The Bulldogs and the Tigers need only to win once to make it to the title game set Sunday.
If the Fighting Maroons and the Green Archers prevail, the knockout matches will be played later in the afternoon.
Louis Gamban and Dan Nicolas were able to save UP’s season with a 21-16, 17-21, 19-17 victory over Far Eastern University’s Jelord Talisayan and Martin Bugaoan. The Maroons ended up tied with the Blue Eagles at 3-3 to force a playoff for the remaining Final Four slot.
“Sa buong team namin at sa buong UP community, sobrang saya kasi ito naman talaga yung goal namin, makapasok sa Final Four. Tapos panibagong laban ulit sa semifinals,” said Gamban.
The Tamaraws and the Falcons finished their campaigns with 1-6 and 0-7 records, respectively.
