Photo by NCAA-GMA
LYCEUM of the Philippines University secured its first-ever women's Final appearance, as Monna Bañares and Hiromi Osada overcame a tough second set stand by San Beda's Angel Habacon and Reyanne Cañete to pull off a 21-8, 25-23 victory in the NCAA beach volleyball Final Four Saturday in Subic.
The Lady Pirates extended their winning streak to eight matches, as Bañares and Osada moved on the cusp of bagging a breakthrough championship.
LPU will face three-peat seeking Letran, as Lara Mae Silva and reigning MVP Gia Maquilang routed Emilio Aguinaldo College's Alessandra Razonable and Cara Dayanan, 21-10, 21-9.
The Lady Pirates topped the eliminations with an 8-1 record, with their lone loss came from the hands of the Lady Knights.
The one-off all-Intramuros final is set at 4 p.m. Sunday.
Letran finished second behind LPU in the elims with a 7-2 slate following a 21-14, 21-14 sweep of Jose Rizal University in the morning session.
San Beda and EAC later completed the Final Four cast as the Lady Red Spikers whipped Arellano University, 21-13, 21-17, while the Lady Generals eliminated University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 10-21, 21-19, 15-5.
San Beda and EAC actually have identical 6-2 marks, but the Lady Generals won the tiebreak and bagged the No. 3 spot.
The Lady Red Spikers and the Lady Generals dispute third place Sunday morning.
San Sebastian, with nothing left to play but pride, ended College of Saint Benilde's Final Four hopes with a 21-11, 21-17 victory.
The Lady Altas and the Lady Blazers finished the season with similar 5-4 records, while the Lady Chiefs settled for a 4-5 mark.
The Lady Bombers and the Lady Stags both capped their campaigns at 2-7.
In the men's division, EAC is through to the men’s finals after sweeping San Beda in the Final Four, 21-17, 21-18.
But Benilde forced a rubber match after downing defending champion Perpetual, 19-21, 21-19, 16-14.
Letran and Mapua forced decider in the juniors side after besting higher ranked foes in the Final Four.
The Squires outlasted the EAC Brigadiers, 17-21, 21-17, 15-12, while Red Robins survived the Arellano Braves, 19-21, 23-21, 15-10.
The deciding Final Four matches will be played Sunday morning.
