The newly reunited UST Tiger Sands duo of Sofiah Pagara and Khylem Progella completed a perfect run to clinch gold in the women’s division of the Beach Volleyball Republic on Tour Sipalay Leg held at Poblacion Beach in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental from June 22 to 23.
Pagara, the UAAP Season 86 Rookie of the Year, reunited with her former juniors beach volleyball teammate and incoming freshman, Progella. The Pagara-Progella duo dethroned the NU Lady Bulldogs’ Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa in the finals, 21-18, 21-13.
“Nasa rebuilding stage na naman kami kasi marami kaming graduate na players,” UST head coach Paul Doloiras told the Varsitarian. “Kaya ngayong off-season tinatrabaho namin ‘yong chemistry saka ine-expose sila [sa games] kasi puro bata ‘yong players namin, kailangan ma-boost ‘yong confidence nila.”
“Hindi namin expected na mananalo kami kasi ang daming veterans sa liga.”
Gen Eslapor, the reigning UAAP women’s beach volleyball MVP and Pagara’s partner in Season 86, represented Strong Group Athletics with her younger sister, Euri, a former player for the UP Fighting Maroons.
The older Eslapor bid farewell to UST after leading the Tiger Sands to their sixth consecutive UAAP title. In the same season, UST also saw the departure of Rancel Varga, a four-time UAAP men’s beach volleyball champion.
“Ngayon, hinahabol namin kung anong kailangan naming habulin,” Doloiras said. “Malaking bagay si Eslapor kasi beterano at saka experienced player na siya [and] malaking kawalan din si Rancel Varga. Kaya nagtatrabaho talaga kaming mabuti as a rebuilding team.”
The Progella-Pagara duo dominated the elimination round and advanced to the finals after defeating the Eslapor sisters in the semifinals, 21-17, 21-16.
In the men’s division, Tiger Sands Aldwin Gupiteo and Dominique Gabito secured the bronze medal after falling to Alas A’s Ranran Abdilla and AJ Pareja, 21-15, 21-11.
Doloiras said he plans to continue developing and exposing the Tiger Sands to offseason competitions. UST will participate in several tournaments in Mindanao in July.
“‘Yong mga players naman namin is ready to fight at mag-step up kapag binigyan sila ng break at ‘yan lang din ang hinihintay ng iba naming players,” he said. “Tuloy-tuloy lang. Gagawin namin ang best namin para ‘pag dating sa UAAP, ready pa rin.”
This year’s BVR on Tour showcased eight and nine teams in the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively. The tournament, spanning two days, used a single round-robin elimination format. Bjorn Del B. Deade
