UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas needs two victories to achieve a third consecutive golden double as its women’s and men’s teams eye a place in the Final and win it all today (Tuesday) in the UAAP Season 87 collegiate beach volleyball tournament at Sands SM By The Bay.
Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella eye to give the Tiger Sands’ a seven-peat and a record 10th women’s crown overall.
Reigning MVP Alche Gupiteo and Dominique Gabito are seeking to give UST a sixth consecutive men’s championship 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 championship rematch with UST and end several seasons of heartbreaks.
Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa battle Adamson University’s prized 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.
Games Tuesday
(Sands SM By The Bay)
8 a.m. – UST vs UP (Men)
8:45 a.m. – NU vs FEU (Men)
9:30 a.m. – UST vs FEU (Women)
10:15 a.m. – NU vs AdU (Men)
2 p.m. – 3rd Place Matches
(Men/Women)
3:30 p.m. – Final Matches (Men/Women)
