Photo by UAAP
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas' women's and men's volleyball teams swept the elimination round without dropping a set, as the Tiger Sands remained on course for a third consecutive golden double in the UAAP beach volleyball tournament at Sands SM By The Bay Sunday.
Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella topped the elimination round after repulsing National University's Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa, 21-16, 21-11, for a 7-0 record in a duel of undefeated teams.
UST will face Far Eastern University in the knockout Final Four after Lovely Lopez and Melody Pons secured the No. 4 spot with a 21-18, 21-14 dismantling of University of the Philippines' Euri Eslapor and Julia de Leon. The Lady Tamaraws ended the elims with a 4-3 card.
Adamson University, the tournament's biggest revelation, bagged the No. 3 ranking after rookies Shai Nitura and Fei Sagaysay prevailed over Ateneo's Liz Lomocso and Gena Hora, 21-17, 21-16.
The Lady Falcons, who finished with a 5-2 slate, will face the 6-1 Lady Bulldogs in the other semifinal pairing.
Dominique Gabito and Alche Gupiteo also powered the Tiger Sands to a perfect 7-0 elims run, topping NU's Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino, 21-11, 21-14, in a showdown of unbeaten squads.
The Bulldogs placed second with a 6-1 and will play the third-ranked Tamaraws in the do-or-die Final Four.
FEU chalked up its fifth win in seven matches after Amet Bituin and Reynan Postorioso downed Ateneo's JM Yu and Carl Corregidor, 21-14, 21-14.
UP clinched the last Final Four berth as Angelo Lipata and Christian Pitogo eliminated De La Salle's Andre Espejo and Von Marata, 21-11, 18-21, 15-9, in a thrilling match witnessed by England's Joaquin and Javier Bello, former FIVB World Tour gold medalists who will play in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge Nuvali later this week.
The Fighting Maroons made sure that there will be no playoff for No. 4 by recovering a second set defeat to wrap up the elims with a 4-3 slate. The Green Spikers missed out the Final Four with a 2-5 mark.
Adamson fell a game short of forcing a do-or-die with UP's win, as Willie Hiltones and Iverson Tan swept UE's Allen Buensalida and Julian Celestial, 21-9, 21-13, for a 3-4 card.
The semifinal is set Tuesday morning, while the final and the third place match will be played in the afternoon.
The Fighting Maroons, who reached the women's Final Four last season, ended up tied with the Blue Eagles in fifth and sixth places at 2-5.
La Salle finally earned a victory after six straight defeats after Ela Raagas and Julliane Javelosa closed out their season by beating UE's Van Bangayan and Ash Cañete, 21-15, 21-8.
