TANAUAN, Batangas–The UST Lady Spikers dominated the 15th Nestea beach volleyball tournament (Metro Manila division) at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (Faith) sand courts from Mar. 25 to 27.
But the Tiger Spikers failed to duplicate the feat as they fell victim against two-time National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) beach volleyball champions Arellano University.
The UST duo of Maruja Banaticla and Judy Caballejo toppled the young De La Salle University tandem of Kim Fajardo and Wensh Tiu, 21-17, 21-18, to gain their first Metro Manila leg title.
“Maganda ang nilaro ng mga players. Kahit medyo mabagal pa rin silang gumalaw sa court, naging maganda pa rin ang atake namin, lalo na yung mga placements,” head coach Emil Lontoc said.
The UAAP women’s beach volleyball champions uncorked a 4-1 salvo, punctuated by Caballejo’s consecutive floaters late in the last frame to give UST a 20-17 lead.
Tiu, a volleyball standout from La Salle-Dasmarinas, tried to keep La Salle alive with a crosscourt hit. But La Salle eventually lost the game due to untimely attack and service errors.
With the win, UST, together with runners-up La Salle and Adamson University, will advance to the national finals of the tournament at the Crystal Sands Beach Resort in Boracay from Apr. 19 to 21.
In men’s play, Arellano’s Carlo Lozada and Chris Salvador denied the UST duo of Henry Pecaña and Mark Alfafara of a championship title, 18-21, 19-21.
“Naging factor na pagod na ‘yung mga players, lalo na si Alfafara. Hindi naging maganda ‘yung` pagpalo n’ya ng bola kaya maraming naging errors,” Lontoc said.
With the game tied at 17, Salvador delivered three-straight power spikes, including a kill off the hands of Pecaña to give Arellano a two-point lead, 20-18. Chenny V. Ramos
