THE UST Tigers and Lady Spikers are heading into the finals after sweeping the elimination round of the UAAP Season 79 beach volleyball tournament at the Sands at SM by the Bay Friday.
Both men’s and women’s teams finished with 7-0 win-loss records after defeating Far Eastern University. They now await the winner of the step-ladder clincher for the championship.
UST’s Kris Roy Guzman and Anthony Arbasto made quick work of FEU’s Jude Garcia and Richard Solis, 21-12, 21-9, to lead the Tiger Spikers to their four straight finals appearance.
The Tiger Spikers breezed through a 17-7 lead in the second set before Arbasto scored a down-the-line hit and a service ace for the win.
“Sa lalaki, sabi ko gumalaw lang ng normal kasi ‘yung FEU may dalawa nang talo,” UST head coach Paul Jan Doloiras said. “Kung ano ‘yung pinlano namin, ‘yun ‘yung nangyari.”
The Lady Spikers redeemed themselves after a disappointing fifth-place finish last season with a 21-14, 21-15, victory over FEU’s Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza.
The Cherry Rondina-Jem Gutierrez tandem zoomed to an 8-point lead in the second set, 17-9, behind a 6-1 run powered by Rondina’s four points and never looked back.
Rondina dazzled with 20 points while Gutierrez chipped in six markers.
“Hindi namin in-expect na ganoon ang kalalabasan kasi akala namin balikan lang,” Doloiras said. “Pero nag-stick sila sa gameplan tapos kumagat ‘yung FEU sa gusto naming mangyari.”
The next set of games will begin on Sunday, Oct. 9, 8 a.m. at the same venue.
