SBU, 2 others bag 1st NC ‘beach’ titles

San Beda University, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Arellano U turned in superb final round stints to clinch their very first titles in the NCAA beach volleyball tournament at the Boardwalk in Subic Bay, Zambales Saturday.

Twins Maria Jeziela and Maria Nieza Viray ended two years of frustration as they beat EAC’s Jaylene May Lumbo and Glyka Mariz Medina, 21-17, 21-10, to sweep their way to women’s crown.

The Virays lost to San Sebastian’s Grethcel Solltones and Alyssa Eroa in the last two finals but came armed to the teeth this year and won all their 11 matches

“We’re so ecstatic because after two years of losing in the finals, we finally won it,” said Maria Jeziela, who also bagged the MVP plum.

EAC’s Paolo Cezar Lim and Joshua Mina, on the other hand, edged Perpetual Help’s Joebert Almodiel and Rey Taneo, 17-21, 21-17, 15-13, to likewise nail their first men’s crown.

The Lim-Mina tandem also wound up with a 11-0 slate with Mina bagging the MVP honors.

AU, for its part, bucked a broken finger sustained by Adrian Villados as Jesus Valdez and reserve Zachary Dablo came away with a 21-16, 21-18 victory in high school play.

With AU taking a 14-13 lead in the second, Villados, who won the MVP title, broke his right pinkie and was rushed to the nearby hospital. But Dablo stepped up and provided a solid backup to Valdez to complete their straightset victory.