Defending girls’ champion University of Santo Tomas secured one of the two remaining Final Four slots as Cheng Dadang and Angelica Del Mar overcame a gritty second-set stand by Adamson University’s Ella Gonzalvo and Maegan Pineda, 21-10, 23-21, in the UAAP Season 87 high school beach volleyball tournament held Sunday at Sands SM By The Bay.
Meanwhile, National University-Nazareth School emerged as the solo leader after the duo of Vilmarie Toos and Faith Mangyao defeated Far Eastern University-Diliman’s Sheena Cafe and Sheena Pascual, 21-17, 21-14, improving their record to a perfect 4-0.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The three-peat-seeking Tiger Sands bounced back from Saturday’s loss to the Bullpups, improving to 3-1 and tying the Baby Tamaraws for second place.
UP Integrated School notched its first-ever girls’ beach volleyball victory as Janella Guarino and rookie Anya Capus outlasted De La Salle-Zobel’s Aislinn Alemaña and Kylie Celada, 21-15, 21-16.
The Junior Maroons are now tied with the Baby Falcons at 1-3, setting up a crucial match against Adamson on Friday morning to determine the last Final Four spot.
Celada replaced Sabine Valdez for the match, but the lineup adjustment wasn’t enough for the Junior Lady Spikers to avoid a fourth straight loss.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the boys’ division, UST extended its unbeaten streak to four matches, moving closer to clinching a Final Four berth.
Michael Lagaran and Lance Malinao dominated UPIS’ Terren Villanueva and Marcus Bamba, 21-4, 21-5, in a commanding performance.
Defending champion NUNS secured its third straight win following an opening-day loss, as Wayne Dionela and Kian Tan cruised past De La Salle-Zobel’s Antonio Papa and Mario Roxas, 21-7, 21-11, in just 25 minutes.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Adamson’s Brice Malinao and Gian Ygot prevailed over University of the East’s Clarence Gianan and Buenaventura Limpin, 21-10, 21-15, during the morning session.
Both the Bullpups and the Baby Falcons are now tied for second place with identical 3-1 records.
FEU-Diliman returned to winning form with Zedrick Calimlim and Sam Coronel dominating Ateneo’s Ken Nicolas and Santiago Avila, 21-7, 21-5, in a match that lasted only 26 minutes.
The Baby Tamaraws and the Junior Green Spikers are now tied at 2-2.
De La Salle-Zobel split its two matches on Sunday.
Papa and Roxas secured a win over Ateneo’s Nicolas and Avila, 21-15, 21-16, following their morning defeat.
Meanwhile, the Junior Warriors and the Maroons share identical 1-3 records after the latest round of action.
Matches resume on Friday at the same sand court in Pasay, with three girls’ and four boys’ games lined up for the day. (TJ)
