Defending champion University of Santo Toma and National University punched their tickets to the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Beach Volleyball Final Four with dominant performances on Friday at Sands SM By The Bay, both improving to a flawless 5-0 record.
The Tiger Sands’ Dominique Gabito and Alche Gupiteo continued their unbeaten streak by dispatching University of the Philippines’s Angelo Lipata and Christian Pitogo, 21-14, 21-10, before cruising past Adamson’s Willie Hiltones and Iverson Tan, 21-15, 21-14.
Tan replaced first player Marc Paulino earlier in the day.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Not to be outdone, the Bulldogs’ Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino secured their spot in the semifinals with wins over Adamson’s Paulino and Hiltones, 21-11, 21-12, and University of the East’s Allen Buensalida and Julian Celestial, 21-14, 21-10.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University, De La Salle University, and UP are in a tight race for the remaining two Final Four spots, with all three teams holding 2-2 slates.
FEU’s Amet Bituin and Reynan Postorioso defeated UE’s Buensalida and Celestial, 21-12, 21-17, while La Salle’s Andre Espejo and Von Marata survived a thrilling 17-21, 21-14, 15-13 encounter against Ateneo’s JM Yu and Amil Pacinio.
The Blue Eagles dropped to 1-3, Adamson slipped to 1-4, and the Red Warriors remained winless at 0-5.
Before their much-anticipated championship rematch on Sunday, UST and NU will face UE and De La Salle, respectively, in Saturday’s preliminary matches. (TJ)
