THE UST Tiger Sands remained unscathed to end the elimination round, pummeling National University in the UAAP Season 87 men’s and women’s beach volleyball tournament at the SM Sands By the Bay on Sunday, Nov. 24.
The wins put UST on top of the both divisions with 7-0 records entering the Final Four. Both NU teams finished second behind UST with 6-1 slates.
Despite finishing with the top seed, the Tiger Sands will not get a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four, unlike the past seasons.
In men’s play, Tiger Sands Alche Gupiteo and Dominique Gabito took down the formerly unbeaten NU duo of Sky Gemarino and Alex Iraya, 21-11, 21-14.
After a back-and-forth start, Gupiteo and Gabito converted 10 straight points on their way to a dominant first-set win, 21-11.
Tied at 8-all, UST leaned on Gupiteo’s attacks to pull away in the latter half of the second set and seal the win, 21-14.
“Magandang indication ito ng Final Four namin,” UST head coach Paul Doloiras told the Varsitarian. “Pero syempre, hindi kami dapat magpa-kampante kasi lahat ng games sa Final Four knockout games ‘eh,” he added.
In the women’s tournament , Sofiah Pagara and Khylem Progella fended off the Bulldogs Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa to finish the eliminations unbeaten, 21-16, 21-11.
NU kept it close for most of the first set, but Pagara and Progella finished the period on a 5-2 blitz to take the win, 21-16.
UST then took over the second set, zooming to a 13-8 score, before ending on an 8-3 blast for the win, 21-11.
“Iisa lang naman mindset namin: Enjoy lang sa laro, and then pag-aralan ang kalaban kasi di natin alam baka makalaban na natin sila sa dulo,” Doloiras said.
As of writing, the UAAP has yet to realease the Final Four schedule.
