THE UST Tiger Sands booked a Final Four ticket after sweeping their opponents and soaring to a 5-0 record in the UAAP Season 86 men’s beach volleyball tournament at the SM Sands by the Bay on Sunday.
The Tiger Sands made quick work of the DLSU Green Archers and Adamson Soaring Falcons UST to inch closer to another elimination-round sweep with two games left.
With UST up big in the first frame, 15-6, the Tiger Sands went on a 6-3 run to draw first blood.
Alchie Gupiteo sizzled with 10 points in the second set to seal UST’s day, 21-12.
In their morning game, the Tiger Sands demolished DLSU’s pair of Andre Espejo and Vince Maglinao, 21-9, 21-8.
“Medyo mahaba-haba ‘yong magiging time namin in preparation sa next games, so sasamantalahin namin itong opportunity na ito to prepare for semis,” UST head coach Paul Doloiras told the Varsitarian.
“Pagtutuunan namin ng pansin ‘yong mga lapses tulad ng errors para ma-make sure na tuloy-tuloy lang ‘yong mga panalo.”
In women’s play, the Tiger Sands’ duo of Gen Eslapor and Sofiah Pagara survived Blue Eagles Roma Doromal and Gena Hora in three sets, 21-14, 17-21, 16-14.
Trailing by six in the second salvo, 18-12, UST pulled a 5-2 run to cut Ateneo’s lead to three.
However, Hora tied the game at one set apiece after scoring a crosscourt kill.
With UST down by two in the third frame, 11-9, Pagara converted back-to-back kills that forced Ateneo to call a timeout.
Both teams went on three more deadlocks but costly back-to-back errors by Hora and Doromal secured the win for the Tigers Sands, 16-14.
UST entered the first frame scorching hot, taking a 21-14 set win over Ateneo.
Early in the morning, the Eslapor-Pagara tandem swept Adamson’s duo of Rochelle Lalongisip and Red Bascon 21-4, 21-10.
UST now has a 4-1 record, good for the third spot behind the spotless National University (5-0) and Far Eastern University (4-0).
The Tiger Sands will next face their University of the East foes on Friday, Nov. 24, at the same venue. Emmanuel John B. Abris
