UST Tiger Sands Khy Progella and Sofia Pagara downed fellow Alas Pilipinas teammates Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, 21-18, 21-13, to capture the FIVB Beach Pro Tour Futures crown in Busan, South Korea, on Sunday.
The young UST pair battled through rainy conditions in the all-Filipino final before overcoming Rondina, a UST volleyball legend, and Pons, a Far Eastern University alumna who has long teamed up with Rondina for the national squad.
Progella, the UAAP Season 88 women’s beach volleyball MVP, and Pagara, the Season 87 Rookie of the Year, went undefeated en route to their first international championship together.
The UST duo defeated teams from Australia, South Korea, the United States and two separate Japanese pairs on their way to the final.
Rondina and Pons likewise advanced to the championship match after beating pairs from South Korea, Australia and the United States. They previously suffered a loss to Brazil but bounced back to reach the final.
Progella and Pagara had earlier partnered to help UST reclaim the UAAP women’s beach volleyball crown in Season 88, defeating the National University Lady Bulldogs in the title match.
The pair also represented the Philippines at the Asian Beach Games in April.
