THE UST Lady Spikers bagged their second straight crown after sweeping the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 80 beach volleyball tournament at the SM Sands by the Bay Saturday.
But the Tiger Spikers were dethroned by the National University Bulldogs.
The Lady Spikers won over FEU in Game 2, 21-15, 21-19, to secure the title.
FEU led in the second set, 19-13, before the Lady Spikers ignited an 8-0 run sealed by an attack error from Lady Tam Bernadeth Pons.
Caitlyn Viray carried UST with 18 points while three-time Most Valuable Player Cherry Rondina added 10 markers.
Pons and partner Kyla Atienza combined for 16 points.
UST drew first blood in Game 1 earlier, 21-16, 22-20.
“‘Lahat ng laro namin sa eliminations, hindi mo alam kung tutumba ka o hindi. Buti na lang ‘yung mental toughness ni Viray nakita dito [sa finals],” UST coach Paul Jan Doloiras said.
The Tiger Spikers surrendered to the Bulldogs in the pivotal Game 3, 16-21, 21-14, 13-15.
Anthony Arbasto scored a through-the-block hit to keep the Tiger Spikers within reach, 14-13, but a quick kill by Bulldog Bryan Bagunas in the next play sealed NU’s title.
Newly-hailed MVP Bagunas fired 18 points while James Natividad tallied 12 markers for NU.
Arbasto, who still had one playing year left, scored 20 while Kris Roy Guzman had 14 markers in his last beach volley game for UST.
“Actually akala namin sa third lang kami pupulutin pero tinyaga pa rin ng mga bata. Dumikit kami sa dulo kaya lang nag-collapse pero masaya kami dahil ‘yung laro namin, walang pinagsisisihan,” Doloiras said.
