THE UST Tiger Sands punched their finals ticket for the 10th straight season after a 21-12, 21-17 pummeling of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 86 men’s beach volleyball tournament at the SM Sands by the Bay on Tuesday.
With the Tiger Sands up by 10 in the first salvo, 16-6, the Blue Eagles went on a 6-3 run capped by back-to-back Jian Salarzon points.
However, Alche Gupiteo halted Ateneo’s momentum, scoring two straight points to give the Tiger Sands a one-set advantage.
Tied at 8-all in the second frame, the Tiger Sands pulled away with a 9-3 blast to mount a six-point lead.
Ateneo responded with four straight points to inch the gap, 17-15. But a game-sealing 4-2 UST run secured the Tiger Sands a finals berth.
“Marami kaming ginawang changes doon sa dalawang araw namin ng training,” UST head coach Paul Doloiras told the Varsitarian. “Kaya kailangan namin ma-execute ‘yung play na binago namin, ‘yung mindset, ‘yung kumpiyansa going to this game.”
“Nasa kanila na iyon kung gusto ulit nila mag-champion.”
The Tiger Sands will face the unbeaten NU Bulldogs in the knockout finals at 3:30 p.m., at the same venue. This is their third straight season facing each other in the finals.
