University of Santo Tomas’ Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella started their quest for a seventh consecutive championship—and a record 10th women’s title overall—with a bang in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Beach Volleyball tournament on Friday at Sands SM By The Bay.
Progella’s collegiate debut proved to be stellar, as the two-time UAAP high school girls beach volleyball champion teamed up with Pagara to deliver back-to-back wins.
The Tiger Sands duo first defeated Far Eastern University’s Lovely Lopez and Melody Pons in straight sets, 21-16, 21-14.
Later in the day, they outclassed Ateneo’s Liz Lomocso and Grydelle Matibag, 21-17, 21-13.
Pagara, last season’s top rookie, and Progella bring considerable experience to the sand court.
The pair recently competed in the Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championship in Santa Rosa, Laguna, as part of the Alas Pilipinas team.
Progella has stepped into the spot vacated by last season’s MVP, Gen Eslapor, who has graduated.
Her debut also marked a reunion with former high school teammate Matibag, as they faced each other for the first time since winning UST’s inaugural girls beach volleyball title last year.
Meanwhile, National University’s Honey Grace Cordero and rookie Kat Epa also began their season with two wins.
The Lady Bulldogs swept University of the Philippines’ Euri Eslapor and Julia De Leon, 21-16, 21-14, before returning in the afternoon to edge Adamson University rookies Shai Nitura and Fei Sagaysay, 21-17, 21-18.
In other matches, University of the East’s Van Bangayan and Krisha Revilla earned a hard-fought victory over Ateneo’s Lomocso and Matibag, 21-18, 15-21, 15-11.
Adamson’s Nitura and Sagaysay also secured a win, defeating De La Salle University’s Sophia Sindayen and Ela Raagas, 21-6, 21-18.
Action resumes Saturday at 10 a.m., with six matches scheduled as the competition heats up at the iconic beachfront venue. (TJ)
