Photo by UAAP
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas is two victories away in achieving a third consecutive golden double as its women's and men's teams eye a place in the Final and win it all Tuesday in the UAAP beach volleyball tournament at Sands SM By The Bay.
Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella, putting up a show all-season long, eye to give the Tiger Sands' a seven-peat and a record 10th women's championship overall.
Reigning MVP Alche Gupiteo and Dominique Gabito are seeking to give UST a sixth consecutive men's title and ninth overall.
Steamrolling the elimination round without dropping a set for both teams, the Tiger Sands remained on course for another double championship.
Pagara and Progella will face Far Eastern University's Lovely Lopez and Melody Pons at 9:30 a.m. in the women's Final Four, while Gupiteo and Gabito will play University of the Philippines' Angelo Lipata and Christian Pitogo in the men's semifinal at 8 a.m.
National University's women's and men's teams hope to arrange a Finals rematch with UST and end several seasons of heartbreaks.
Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa battle Adamson University's rookies Shai Nitura and Fei Sagaysay in the women's semis at 10:15 a.m., while Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino go up against FEU's Amet Bituin and Reynan Postorioso at 8:45 a.m. in the men's Final Four.
The Bulldogs finished second behind the Tiger Sands in the women's and men's divisions at 6-1.
The Lady Falcons impressed in the elims to finish third at 5-2, while the Lady Tamaraws ended fourth at 4-3.
In men's play, the Tamaraws went 5-2 in third spot, while the Fighting Maroons were the last team to reach the Final Four at 4-3.
The survivors of the knockout semifinal will play in the one-match final for women at 4:15 p.m. and men at 3:30 p.m. The losers will play in the third place match for women at 2:45 p.m. and men at 2 p.m.
