DEFENDING champions UST Spikers dominated the UAAP Season 80 beach volleyball tournament opener with three victories at the SM Sands by the Bay last Oct. 5.
The UST Tiger Spikers prevailed over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 12-21, 21-15, 17-15.
UST trailed in the grueling third frame, 15-14, before Anthony Arbasto’s drop capped off a three-point swing to shut down the Maroons.
Arbasto exploded with 27 points while reigning Most Valuable Player Kris Roy Guzman added eight.
Maroon Nicolo Consuelo had 14 points.
“‘Yun ang hindi ko in-expect na hindi nila ma-control. Pero ‘yung experience nila, ‘yung maturity, andun pa rin kaya sa huli, sila pa rin ang nanalo,” UST coach Paul Jan Doloiras said.
In women’s play, the Lady Spikers opened their campaign with a hard-earned win against the De La Salle University Lady Archers, 21-23, 21-19, 15-11, before blasting the National University Lady Bulldogs, 21-9, 21-8.
The Lady Spikers shattered an 11-all logjam against La Salle in the final frame with four-straight points, sealed by a drop from reigning women’s MVP Cherry Rondina, 15-11.
In their second game, the Lady Spikers opened the second frame with an 18-3 rampage, highlighted by a Caitlyn Viray ace, to secure their second win of the day, 21-8.
UST only had four errors compared to the Lady Bulldogs’ 12.
Viray finished with 18 points while Rondina added 11 markers.
Lady Bulldog Audrey Paran had seven.
The Tiger Spikers tallied a 1-0 win-loss card while the Lady Spikers led the pack with a 2-0 slate.
Beach volleyball action resumes today, Friday, 3 p.m., at the same venue.
