SEVEN-PEAT seekers University of Santo Tomas and National University made quick work of their respective foes to remain unbeaten in the men’s division of the UAAP Season 88 beach volleyball tournament on Saturday at Sands SM By The Bay.
The Tiger Sands duo of Alche Gupiteo and Dom Gabito improved to 3-0 with a 21-14, 21-10 victory over University of the Philippines’ Angelo Lipata and Zedrick Calimlim.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Not to be outdone, the Bulldogs pair of Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino defeated Far Eastern University’s Christian Salboro and Reynan Postorioso, 21-16, 21-14, to also maintain a perfect 3-0 slate.
Ateneo’s Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio bounced back from a 21-17, 16-21, 13-15 loss to Salboro and Postorioso by posting a 21-12, 21-15 win over De La Salle’s Von Marata and Andrei Espejo, moving the Blue Eagles to 2-1.
Adamson University and UP forced a four-way tie with FEU and La Salle at 1-2 after both teams bested last-place University of the East.
Iverson Tan and Willie Hitones topped Allen Buensalida and Julian Celestial, 21-9, 21-7, in the morning session, while UP’s Lipata and Calimlim bounced back from their earlier defeat to Gupiteo and Gabito with a 21-6, 21-10 rout of Celestial and Edesson Lusaya, leaving the Red Warriors with a fourth straight loss.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the women’s division, defending champions NU and UST also remained perfect in three matches after posting straight-set victories.
The Lady Bulldogs’ reigning MVP Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa downed Adamson’s Shai Nitura and Fhei Sagaysay, 21-13, 21-16, while the Tiger Sands’ Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella subdued FEU’s Melody Pons and Lovely Lopez, 21-9, 21-10.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UP stayed within striking distance of NU and UST with a 2-1 record after Jum Gayo and Ornos defeated UE’s Van Bangayan and Krisha Revilla, 21-17, 21-14.
Ateneo also notched its second win in three matches as Gry Matibag and Liz Lomocso outlasted De La Salle’s Mica Buis and Ela Raagas, 22-20, 16-21, 19-17.
The Lady Tamaraws earned a split on the second day as Pons and Lopez rallied in the first set and took control in the second to beat Buis and Raagas, 22-20, 21-14. Meanwhile, Nitura and Sagaysay gave the Lady Falcons a 1-1 card for the day after a 21-13, 21-8 victory over Bangayan and Revilla.
FEU and Adamson now hold 1-2 records overall, while De La Salle and UE remain winless after three matches. – TJ
