DEFENDING champion University of Santo Tomas took the solo lead as Khy Progella and Cameron Grace Villaluz overcame Adamson University’s Shai Nitura and Fel Sagaysay, 21-14, 24-22, in a duel of unbeaten teams in the UAAP Season 86 High School Girls’ Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Sands SM By The Bay, Saturday evening.
Far Eastern University-Diliman gained a piece of second place as Frenchie Premaylon and Love Lopez bested Ateneo’s Ten Quimpo and Abigail May Martija, 22-20, 21-16.
The Baby Tamaraws and the Baby Falcons sport similar 3-1 records.
De La Salle-Zobel’s Aislinn Alemaña, Katrina Tria, and third player Angel Jaden Cenizal moved in a tie with National University Nazareth School in fourth place after outlasting UP Integrated School’s Khloe Long and Janella Guarino, 20-22, 21-8, 15-4.
The Junior Lady Spikers and the idle Lady Bullpups now have 2-2 records.
The Blue Eagles dropped to 1-4, while the Junior Fighting Maroons fell to 0-5.
In the boys’ division, NUNS, UST, Adamson, and FEU-D are still locked in a four-way tie at 4-1 but opened a two-game lead over University of the East.
NUNS’ John Wayne Dionela and Rain Skyler Gemarino made short work of UPIS’ Juan Miguel Navarro, Japeth Ben Casabar, and third player Marcus Ellis Bamba, 21-6, 21-4.
UST continued its rise after an opening day defeat as John Michael Lagaran, Lance Malinao, and third player Luther Mace Gutierrez subdued UE’s Jan Macam, Xyrone Montemayor, 21-10, 21-19.
Adamson’s Tommy Castrodes, CJ Dominquito, and third player Brandy Clemente overpowered Ateneo’s Mon Paquito Berdos, Santiago Andres Avila, and third player Miguel Mariano Turqueza, 21-7, 21-3.
Back-to-back title-seeking FEU-D’s Kyle Tandoc, Amet Bituin, and third player Zedric Dave Calimlim prevailed over De La Salle-Zobel’s Mario Roxas, Christopher Pallega and third player Jarett Lei Failana, 21-11, 21-19.
The Junior Warriors lost two in a row and fell to 2-3 overall.
The Junior Green Spikers and the Blue Eagles have identical 1-4 cards while the Junior Fighting Maroons remained winless in five matches.