Tiger Sands complete elimination round sweep

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Beach Volleyball Standings

Women
*UST 7-0
*NU 6-1
*FEU 5-2
*UP 4-3
Ateneo 3-4
AdU 2-5
DLSU 1-6
UE 0-7

Men
*UST 7-0
*NU 6-1
*FEU 4-3
*Ateneo 4-3
AdU 3-4
UP 2-5
DLSU 2-5
UE 0-7
*Final Four

Games Sunday at the Sands SM By The Bay
8 a.m. – UST vs Ateneo (Men Final Four)
8:45 a.m. – NU vs FEU (Men Final Four)
9 a.m. – UST vs UP (Women Final Four)
9:45 a.m. – NU vs FEU (Women Final Four)
2 p.m. – Men Battle for 3rd
2:45 p.m. – Women Battle for 3rd
3:30 p.m. – Men Final
4:15 p.m. – Women Final

University of Santo Tomas completed a seven-match sweep of the eliminations as Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella went all out in the second set to overpower National University’s Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa, 21-14, 21-6, in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women's Beach Volleyball Tournament Saturday at Sands SM By The Bay.

Determined to reclaim the throne they surrendered to the Lady Bulldogs last year, the Tiger Sands broke away from a 3-3 deadlock in the second set, scoring 18 of the match’s final 21 points to cap a perfect eliminations campaign.

UST now gears up for a Final Four clash against No. 4 University of the Philippines, making a comeback after missing out last season.

In the do-or-die matchup for the last Final Four spot, Jum Gayo and Kryssia Ornos outlasted Ateneo’s Gry Matibag and Liz Lomocso, 21-9, 9-21, 15-8.

Far Eastern University, which will face NU in the other Final Four pairing, closed the eliminations on a high note as Melody Pons and Lovely Lopez dispatched Adamson University’s Shai Nitura and Lana Barrera, 21-12, 21-16.

The Lady Bulldogs finished with a 6-1 record, while the Lady Tamaraws claimed third place at 5-2. The Fighting Maroons bounced back from consecutive losses on Friday to secure fourth at 4-3.

The women’s semifinals are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. today, with the third-place match at 2:45 p.m. and the one-match championship at 4:15 p.m.

The Blue Eagles, after losing two straight, missed out on a Final Four berth, ending fifth at 3-4, while the Lady Falcons, last season’s fourth placers, slipped to sixth at 2-5.

De La Salle’s Mica Buis and Sophia Sindayen saved the best for last by defeating University of the East’s Van Bangayan and Smile Iquio, 21-12, 21-13, in another women’s match.

UST’s seven-peat bid in the men’s division remained alive as former MVPs Alche Gupiteo and Dom Gabito edged NU’s Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino, 18-21, 21-17, 15-12, to complete a 7-0 sweep of the eliminations.

FEU claimed the third Final Four berth after Christian Salboro and Reynan Postorioso toppled UP’s Angelo Lipata and John Torotoro, 17-21, 21-11, 15-10.

Ateneo clinched the last spot as Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio dominated UE’s Allen Buensalida and Julian Celestial, 21-13, 21-9. Both Ateneo and FEU finished with 4-3 records, but the Tamaraws defeated the Blue Eagles in their elimination round matchup last November 22, 17-21, 21-16, 15-13.

In the men’s Final Four, Ateneo will face UST at 8:45 a.m., while FEU meets NU at 8 a.m. The men’s one-match championship is set for 3:30 p.m., with the third-place match at 2 p.m.

Adamson, missing the Final Four despite showing fight, saw Iverson Tan and Willie Hitones edge De La Salle’s Von Marata and Andre Espejo, 16-21, 21-18, 21-19, to finish fifth at 3-4. The Fighting Maroons and the Green Spikers ended up tied at 2-5 in sixth and seventh places, respectively.

UE’s women’s and men’s teams went winless in seven matches.