Men’s titleholder University of Santo Tomas and last year’s runner-up National University posted two victories in the UAAP Season 86 beach volleyball tournament Friday at Sands SM By The Bay.
The Tiger Sands’ Alche Gupiteo and Rancel Varga set in motion their title campaign with a 21-11, 21-19 win over Ateneo’s Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio and 21-9, 21-12 conquest of University of the Philippines’ Christian Pitogo and Angelo Lipata.
The Bulldogs’ James Buytrago and Alex Iraya defeated Far Eastern University’s Vincent Nadera and JJ Javelona, 21-12, 21-12, and swept De La Salle’s Andre Espejo and Vince Maglinao, 21-13, 21-12.
UST, which defeated NU in the last two Finals, is eyeing a five-peat in the men’s side.
Pitogo and Lipata, who downed Adamson University’s Francis Casas and Dan Gutierrez, 21-17, 21-17, fell to 1-1, the same record Espejo and Maglinao, who swept University of the East’s Jake Abria and Allen Buensalida, 21-13, 21-16.
Action resumes Saturday with the men’s morning session at 7 a.m. and two afternoon matches at 3:30 p.m.
