THE UST Junior Tiger Sands settled for silver in the UAAP Season 87 girls’ beach volleyball tournament after falling to the undefeated NUNS Lady Bullpups in the finals, 18-21, 21-9, 15-8, at the SM Sands by the Bay on Sunday, Feb. 2.
The Junior Tiger Sands entered the game as two-time defending champions, but the duo of Cheng Dadang and Angelica del Mar only managed to win the opening set before conceding the final two frames.
It was also the Lady Bullpups duo of Vilmarie Toos and rookie Faith Mangyao that handed UST its only loss in the elimination round.
“Masaya pa rin kami kasi hindi naman namin inexpect ‘to lalo na mga bata pa sila,” UST head coach Paul Doloiras told the Varsitarian. “Nagsisimula pa lang kami, mag-grow pa kami after nitong talo.”
Following a fierce back-and-forth to start the game, the Junior Tiger Sands found their groove late in the first set, stringing three straight attacks to lead, 19-16.
After two NUNS attacks, the Lady Bullpups fumbled with two errors late to hand UST the first set, 21-18.
NUNS then buried UST 13-3 to start the second set and never looked back as the Junior Tiger Sands struggled to stop the Lady Bullpups’ offensive tempo, forcing a deciding set, 9-21.
Hope seemed dim for the Junior Tiger Sands as they found themselves in a 0-5 pit to start the third frame, until Del Mar sparked a 4-2 blast to keep within striking distance, 7-4.
However, NUNS pulled away with an 8-4 run to seal the championship and deny UST of a three-peat, 15-8.
“Ito ‘yong experience na kailangan namin para mag-grow pa kasi naniniwala ako sa girls na kaya pa nilang maging better next year,” Doloiras said.
In the semifinals, UST took down the FEU-D Baby Tamaraws, 21-17, 16-21, 15-8.
