University of Santo Tomas pulled off a 21-15 21-17 win over Far Eastern University-Diliman to successfully defend the gold on Sunday night in the UAAP Season 86 High School Girls Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Sands SM By The Bay.
Khy Progella, Cameron Grace Villaluz, and Grithney Jhyn Dadang were instrumental in the Junior Tiger Sands unbeaten eight-match winning run.
The most successful program in the sport, UST earlier captured its ninth women’s title and eighth men’s crown in the collegiate division last November.
“Sobrang happy kase ngayon taon nato sobrang hirap manalo eh kase NU, FEU and Adamson talaga lahat sila nakaprepare para ngayon season and blessing samin napunta ung panalo,” said coach Paul Jan Dolorias.
“Ayun naman talaga ang plano namin ipagpatuloy kung ano ginagawa namin sa college at ituloy namin sa grass-roots. Kase ito ung pinaka importanteng part ung grass-roots kailngan namin ipakita dito na ung mga bata naglalaro at the same time naeenjoy nila ung moment,” he added.
It was the second girls’ title overall for the Junior Tiger Sands.
“Ang masasabi ko palang po talagh ay sobrang grateful po namin na umabot po ulit kami dito sa Finals or championship po na laro and sobrang blessed lang na binigyan kami ng oppurtunity nina coach na kami po maglaro this season,” said Progella.
“Nag focus lang po talaga inisip ko lang po ung training po namin pinaghirapan namin sa buong journey namin para saan papo yung pagkatalo namin if hindi namin ilalaban talaga,” Villaluz said.
Progella was named the season MVP, while Dadang took home the Rookie of the Year honors.
“Iniisip ko lang talaga na labanan to ng puso na kailngan namin na panalo kase madami kami sinakripisyo so bakit pa namin sasayangin ung laro na yun kung papatalo namin ung ganun score na kaya pa namin ihabol,” said Progella.
It was still a great season for Love Lopez, Sheena Cafe, and Frenchie Premaylon, as the Baby Tamaraws placed second after missing the podium last year.
(C) Maki Tan/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
In the boys division, National University Nazareth School rallied from a set down to beat FEU-D, 15-21, 21-16, 15-12, for its first title.
John Wayne Dionela and Rain Skyler Gemarino, who was named the tournament MVP, were happy to give the Bullpups the championship.
“History po kase yung seniors mens talo lagi po talo sila lagi po sila runner-up, promise po namin sakanila na babawi po kami tinupad po namin yung babawi kami,” said Dionela.
NU was second place in the college division.
“Unang una sa lahat nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng sumuporta samin sa pamilya ko sa coaches masasabi ko po matagal o namin pinaghandaan po ito marami po pagsubok na dinaanan nadown kami natalo seniors namin yun po ung ginawa namin inspirasyon manalo sa game na to and for me first ko na UAAP to and great achievement to para akin nagdodoubt po ako sasarili ko pero kinaya ko po,” Gemarino said.
The Baby Tamaraws’ Kyle Tandoc and Amet Bituin won the title last season, with high school beach volleyball as a regular event.
The Baby Falcons clinched third place yesterday after a 21-17, 21-12 conquest of the Bullpups in the girls division.
The Junior Tigers Sands outlasted the Baby Falcons, 18-21, 21-13, 15-10, to reach the podium in the boys’ side.
