Photo by NCAA-GMA
LYCEUM of the Philippines University finished the women's eliminations as the top-ranked team in the NCAA beach volleyball tournament Friday in Subic.
The Lady Pirates' Monna Bañares and Hiromi Osada nipped University of Perpetual Help System Dalta's Pauline Reyes and Camille Bustamante, 18-21, 21-19, 15-13.
Defending two-time champion Letran absorbed its second loss of the season, dropping a 21-14, 17-21, 12-15 decision to San Beda in a rematch of last year's Final.
LPU, which defeated Arellano University, 21-13, 21-14, in the morning session, ended up with an 8-1 record and will be the No. 1 team in the Final Four.
The Lady Pirates have won six in a row after absorbing their lone defeat of the eliminations against the Lady Knights in the second day of the competition.
Letran, which beat Emilio Aguinaldo College, 21-16, 21-14, in the first match of the day, remained in second place with a 6-2 record.
The Lady Red Spikers, who survived San Sebastian, 19-21, 21-18, 15-11, in the morning session, moved in a tie with the Lady Generals at 5-3.
Later, College of Saint Benilde remains in the Final Four mix as Doreen Baguio and Shandara Baba nipped Arellano, 21-17, 17-21, 15-12, to force a three-way logjam at 5-3.
EAC, meanwhile, leads in the men's and juniors divisions with 8-0 and 7-1 records, respectively.
The final elimination round matches will be played Saturday morning, while the Final Four is set in the afternoon. The Final is on Sunday.
