University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle clinched twice-to-beat bonus in the women’s Final Four after extending their respective winning runs to six matches Sunday in the UAAP Season 82 Beach Volleyball tournament at the Sands SM By The Bay.
Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor preserved the Tigresses’ streak of straight-set victories this season following a 21-12, 21-11 win over University of the East’s Lyen Ritual and Juliet Catindig.
“Yung goal po namin is ma-defend yung crown para din kay ate Sisi [Rondina], kasi ilang seasons din na nag-champion siya. Ayaw namin na mabigo siya,” said Barbon about clinching a Final Four slot.
The Lady Spikers’ Tin Tiamzon and Justine Jazareno turned back Ateneo’s Ponggay Gaston and Roma Mae Doromal, 21-15, 21-19, to also remain perfect.
UST and De La Salle will duke it out for placings in a rematch of last year’s Finals in the final elimination matchday at 10:40 a.m. Wednesday at the same Mall of Asia sand court.
Unlike in the previous seasons where the team that sweeps the seven-match elims will gain an outright passage to the best-of-three Finals, the winner will simply claim the No. 1 seeding in the semifinals with the twice-to-beat incentive.
Far Eastern University’s Sheena Gallentes and Sheila Mae Kiseo became the first semifinalist following a 21-9, 21-8 rout of National University’s Andrea Abian and Chlea dela Fuente.
The Lady Tamaraws moved up to 4-2 and are already assured of the No. 3 ranking in the Final Four.
University of the Philippines’ Rosie Rosier and Euri Eslapor rallied from a set down to beat Adamson University’s Kring Uy and Chen Ave, 16-21, 21-19, 15-13, to keep its semis hopes alive.
The Lady Eagles are clinging at the No. 4 spot at 3-3, a game ahead of the Lady Maroons and the Lady Falcons, both sporting 2-4 slates in joint fifth.
Ateneo needs to beat Adamson University at 12 noon Wednesday to avoid complications of a playoff for the remaining semifinals slot.
Other final elimination round matches are UP-NU at 11:20 a.m. and FEU-UE at 12:40 p.m. The Final Four will be immediately played right after the completion of the elims.
