Photo courtesy of NCAA-GMA
TITLEHOLDER Letran pulled off a 21-14, 21-13 win over University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in a rematch of last year's championship to complete a nine-match sweep of the women's eliminations of the NCAA beach volleyball tournament at the Subic Bay Sand Court Saturday.
Aside from extending the Lady Knights winning run to 18 matches which dates back from last season, the pair Lara Mae Silva and Gia Maquilang have not yet dropped a set in the tournament.
Silva and Maquilang earlier made quick work of Emilio Aguinaldo College's Cathrine Almazan and Christine Joy Cordial, 21-17, 21-10, to assure themselves of the No. 1 ranking in the eliminations.
With the twice-to-beat advantage, Letran hopes to sustain its perfect run in the Final Four this Sunday morning and gain a chance of reaching the one-match final later in the afternoon.
The Lady Altas' Mary Rhose Dapol and Krisha Cordero finished with a 6-3 record.
Dapol and Cordero rebounded from back-to-back defeats Friday by sweeping Arellano University's Alona Caguicla and Harem Ceballos, 21-12, 21-17, in the morning session.
San Beda's Angel Habacon and Reyann Cañete, meanwhile, absorbed a second straight loss, 21-12, 21-23, 7-15, to Jose Rizal University's Kayla Jasareno and Nicole Deala.
San Beda later posted a 19-21, 21-13, 15-12 win over also-ran Mapua to bag the second twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four. The Lady Red Spikers secured the No. 2 ranking at 7-2.
The Lady Generals outlasted the Lady Bombers, 20-22, 21-19, 15-8, to secure the remaining Final Four berth with their sixth win in nine matches and face the top-ranked Lady Knights at 7:30 a.m.
San Beda and Perpetual square off in the other semis pairing.
JRU and Arellano, which routed San Sebastian, 21-16, 21-8, in the afternoon session, bowed out of contention with identical 5-4 cards.
In the men's division, Mapua topped the eliminations as it beat holders Perpetual and Arellano via the rally points ratio tiebreaker after the three teams ended up tied at 7-2.
JRU was the other Final Four qualifier, as it dislodged College of Saint Benilde in fourth place via the rally points ratio tiebreaker after both squads sport similar 6-3 records.
The Cardinals and the Altas hold twice-to-beat advantage against the Bombers and the Chiefs, respectively.
In the juniors Final Four, EAC, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Letran and Perpetual qualified after the four teams ended up level at 6-2.
Armed with twice-to-beat protection, the Brigadiers and the Junior Pirates need only to beat the Squires and the Junior Altas once to advance to the title match.
