THE UST beach volleyball duos both secured berths in the semifinals, despite contrasting results in the closing stages of the UAAP elimination round at the University of the East sand courts in Caloocan.
Season 72 fourth-placers UST Lady Spikers derailed the De La Salle University Lady Spikers with a straight set sweep, 27-25, 21-17, to snag their fifth victory in seven games last September 11 and settle at third place.
But their male counterparts, the reigning two-time beach volleyball kings, received a stunning blow from their perennial rival Far Eastern University (FEU) in a three-setter match, 15-21, 21-19, 14-16. The Tiger Spikers finished the elimination round at third place with a 5-2 win-loss card.
UST mainstay Judy Caballejo teamed up with Jane Gonzales for a chance to bag the first ever beach volleyball crown of UST since the inauguration of the sport in 2006.
Caballejo’s drops and a quick service aces made an early 10-8 binge in the opening set for UST. La Salle continued to chase the lead until Lady Archer Charleen Cruz hit a witty down the line shot and her partner Amanda Villanueva scored a drop to cut the lead down to one, 14-13.
UST managed to bounce back after Jane Gonzales’ corner shots and line hits, 19-17.
The Lady Archers did not hoist the white flag easily, bringing the game to a pulsating deuce but a kill and a placement shot from the black-and-gold duo sealed the first set for UST.
The heart-pounding second set saw a total of five deadlocks including an 11-all tie but the reigning UAAP indoor volleyball champions knew exactly how to handle crunchtime situations as Caballejo finished the game with a long attack, 21-18.
Previously, the Lady Spikers devoured the University of the Philippines (2-0), 21-9, 21-7 last September 8.
Still in the hunt
The Tiger Spikers booked a spot in the semifinals despite the shocker against FEU.
The duo of Season 71 beach volleyball MVP Henry Pecaña and Harby Ilano could not contain the solid chemistry of FEU’s Gabriel Maverick and Nestor Molate, trailing by as much as six in the first frame, 14-20, as the Morayta pair sustained the momentum until the last point.
The Tiger Spikers had a strong start in the succeeding set but FEU continued knocking on heaven’s door at the middle of the set as Maverick landed a drop that closed the gap at 14-11.
Ilano erected a six-point lead for the Tiger Spikers as he landed a crosscourt shot that caught FEU off-guard, 19-13, before the Maverick-Molate duo tightened their defense against Ilano and Pecaña that rifled a 5-0 run, 19-18.
But Maverick committed two consecutive sevice errors that handed the set to UST, forcing a deciding third set.
The atmosphere grew tense during the last set with both teams trading kills until the game landed to a hair-raising 14-all deadlock. Steel-nerved Maverick broke the ice after digging in two points ending with a check ball earning the win for FEU, 14-16.
“The outcome proved that we still lacked the confidence to win,” Pecaña said. Rey Ian M. Cruz and Anne Marie Carmela L. Dayauon
