UST, NU dispute beach volley throne

University of Santo Tomas seeks to extend its beach volleyball supremacy against National University when they dispute the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 men’s and women’s titles today at Sands SM By The Bay.

The four-peat-seeking Tigers face the Bulldogs in the 9:20 a.m. winner-take-all men’s encounter while the Tigresses shoot for a five-peat when they take the sands in the 10 a.m. showdown against first-time finalists Lady Bulldogs.

Reigning women’s Most Valuable Player Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor clinched the UST’s fifth straight Finals appearance after dominating University of the Philippines’ Euri Eslapor and Alyssa Bertolano, 21-16, 21-6, in the semifinals on Sunday.

The duo earlier completed a clean sweep of the elimination round with a 23-21, 21-14, victory over the pair of Justine Jazareno and Jolina de la Cruz of De La Salle University.

UST has yet to drop a set this season and has won 36 consecutive matches dating back from 2016.

On the other hand, NU’s Honey Grace Cordero and Kly Orillaneda gave their school its breakthrough Finals appearance with a 21-17, 21-14, triumph over the Lady Spikers in the semis.

The pair entered the Final Four as no. 2 seed after closing the eliminations with a quick work of University of the East’s Meriam Mungcal and Khrisia Lero, 21-6, 21-9, for a 6-1 card.

UP secured its first Final Four stint since 2018 after downing Adamson University’s Mary Grace Borromeo and Aliah Marce, 21-7, 21-10, for a 4-3 record.

Far Eastern University’s Gerzel Petallo and Melody Pons ended the season with a 21-11, 21-8 romp of Ateneo de Manila University’s Pia Ildefonso and Ysa Nisperos. The Lady Tamaraws ended up in fifth place with a 3-4 card.

The Lady Falcons finished with a 2-5 card, Blue Eagles got 1-6 and the Lady Warriors went winless in seven games in the return of the women’s tournament after a two-year absence due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Jaron Requinton and reigning MVP Rancel Varga scored a 21-11, 21-15 victory over Ateneo’s Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio for the Tigers’ ninth straight championship stint.