Photo by UAAP
BOYS division leader University of Santo Tomas and back-to-back title-seeking National University Nazareth School secured the two Final Four berths in the UAAP high school beach volleyball tournament Friday at Sands SM By The Bay.
The Tiger Sands extended their perfect run to five matches after JM Lagaran and Lance Malinao defeated University of the East's Clarence Gianan and Buenaventura Limpin, 21-11, 21-13.
The Bullpups climbed to 5-1 in second place as Wayne Dionela and Kian Tan rout Ateneo's Santiago Avila and Kevin Gabia, 21-5, 21-9, before returning in the afternoon with a dominant 21-1, 21-13 victory over UPIS' Terren Villanueva and Marcus Bamba in the 23-minute match.
The Bullpups scored the 20 points of the match before finishing the first set in just nine points.
Adamson moved to within distance of NUNS at 4-1 after Brice Malinao and Gian Ygot made short work of La Salle-Zobel's Antonio Papa and Mario Roxas, 21-10, 21-16.
Far Eastern University-Diliman' rose to 3-2 after Zedrick Calimlim and Coronel overpowered UP Integrated School's Villanueva and Bamba, 21-6, 21-7.
Adamson went down to serious business to beat UP Integrated School, 21-8, 21-15, and secure the remaining girls Final Four berth .
Ella Gonzalvo and Maegan Pineda made sure that the Junior Fighting Maroons pair of Janella Guarino and Anya Capus won't pull another reversal by controlling the do-or-die match early to power the Baby Falcons to finish fourth in the eliminations with a 2-3 record.
Adamson's entry ensured the same Final Four cast from last season.
NUNS completed a five-match elimination round sweep and clinched the No. 1 ranking in the Final Four after Vilmarie Toos and Faith Mangyao needed only 24 minutes to repulse La Salle-Zobel's Aislinn Alemaña and Kylie Celada, 21-5, 21-2.
The Bullpups will play the Baby Falcons in Sunday's semifinal.
Defending champion UST took the No. 2 ranking with a 4-1 record as Cheng Dadang and Angelica Del Mar subdued FEU-D's Sheena Cafe and Sheila Pascual, 21-15, 21-10, in a Final Four preview.
The Baby Tamaraws finished third with a 3-2 slate, hoping to get back against the three-peat seeking Tiger Sands in Sunday's Final Four.
UPIS, which earned its first-ever beach volleyball victory by beating La Salle-Zobel last Sunday, wound up fifth with a 1-4 record. The Junior Lady Spikers, meanwhile, went without a win to show in five matches.
