University of Santo Tomas (UST) and National University (NU) continued their dominance in the UAAP Season 87 collegiate beach volleyball tournament, with both their men’s and women’s teams remaining unbeaten after contrasting victories on Saturday at Sands SM By The Bay.
In the women’s competition, Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella led the Tiger Sands to a commanding 21-6, 21-14 victory over the University of the Philippines’ Euri Eslapor and Julia De Leon, as UST seeks a seventh consecutive title.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, NU’s Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa showed great poise, rallying from behind in both sets to defeat Far Eastern University’s Lovely Lopez and Melody Pons, 21-18, 21-18.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the men’s division, UST’s Dominique Gabito and reigning MVP Alche Gupiteo kept their perfect record intact with a 21-13, 21-19 victory over Ateneo’s JM Yu and Amil Pacinio.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
NU’s Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino also extended their undefeated run, sweeping FEU’s Amet Bituin and Reynan Postorioso, 21-11, 21-15.
Both schools’ men’s and women’s teams now sit atop the standings with a 3-0 record, maintaining their pursuit of championships in both divisions.
In other women’s matches, Adamson University’s prized rookies Shai Nitura and Fei Sagaysay moved up to 2-0, bouncing back from a first set loss to beat University of the East’s Van Bangayan and Krisha Revilla, 19-21, 21-6, 15-8, in the match capped with fireworks at the background.
Ateneo defeated De La Salle in their rivalry match, as Liz Lomocso and Grydelle Matibag turned back Sophia Sindayen and Ela Raagas, 22-20, 21-18, to check a two-match slide.
Eslapor and De Leon overcame a late stand by Sindayen and Raagas in the second set to emerge triumphant, 21-17, 23-21, to help the Fighting Maroons improve to 2-1, while sending the Lady Spikers to 0-4.
The Lady Tamaraws, who are now tied with the Blue Eagles at 1-2, were able to savage a win in the morning session as Lopez and Pons prevailed over the Lady Warriors’ Bangayan and Revilla, 21-17, 21-17.
Over on the men’s side, UP’s Angelo Lipata and Christian Pitogo bounced back from a Friday night loss to NU, defeating Adamson University’s Marc Paulino and Willie Hiltones, 21-13, 21-18. The Fighting Maroons improved to 2-1.
In other men’s morning fixtures, Bituin and Postorioso gave the Tamaraws their first victory by sweeping the Falcons’ Paulino and Hiltones, 21-9, 28-26.
De La Salle halted a two-match skid as Andre Espejo and Von Marata bested UE’s Allen Buensalida and Julian Celestial, 21-16, 21-15.
Yu and Pacinio returned in the afternoon by giving the Blue Eagles a split in the second day by repulsing the Red Warriors’ Buensalida and Celestial, 21-9, 21-7.
