Nazareth School of National University and University of Santo Tomas booked the first two Final Four slots in the girls’ division of the UAAP Season 82 high school beach volleyball tournament at Sands SM By The Bay Sunday.
The Lady Bullpups’ Kathrina Epa and Chantal Rodriguez bested De La Salle-Zobel’s Irah Jaboneta and Gerzel Petallo, 21-11, 21-13, and survived University of the East’s Chris Ann Susbilla and Dea Villamor, 22-20, 19-21, 15-13, to stay perfect in five matches.
The Junior Tigresses’ Vanessa Bangayan and Jullana Carreon carved out a 21-17, 21-17 victory over Far Eastern University-Diliman’s Nikka Medina and Mary Melony Amaro and later ended their elims stint with 21-18, 21-10 win over Adamson University’s Mary Grace Borromeo and Ayesha Juegos.
UST tallied a 5-1 record.
Epa and Rodriguez rallied from 4-8 and 8-11 deficits in the deciding set to turn back the hard-fighting duo of Susbilla and Villamor in the day’s most exciting match.
Aside from claiming the top two spots, UST and NSNU also secured the twice-to-beat bonus in the semifinals.
With Lorien Gamboa replacing Jaboneta to join forces with Petallo, De La Salle-Zobel hacked out a 21-14, 21-13 victory over FEU to move closer in making it to the semis with its 3-2 mark in third place.
The Junior Warriors, who earlier beat Ateneo’s Celina Vergeire and Ady Lasala in the morning session, 21-14, 21-14, fell to 2-3 card alongside the Baby Falcons in fourth spot.
The Baby Tamaraws took their fourth loss in five matches to miss the next round.
In the boys’ division, UST and FEU bested their respective foes to claim the twice-to-beat Final Four incentive.
The Tiger Cubs’ Jay Rack dela Noche and Alexander Iraya topped UE’s Francis Babon and JM Apolinario, 21-14, 21-13, to stay perfect in six matches while the Baby Tamaraws’ Jelord Talisayan and Carl Cabatac improved to 5-1 following a 21-9, 21-11 romp of Ateneo’s Mikka Mendoza and Anjo Almadro.
UE dropped to 3-3 in a tie with NSNU and Adamson University, making the race for the two remaining slots too close to call.
The Bullpups’ Jann Mark Pijo and Reymart Reyes overpowered UP Integrated School’s Brett Borja and Miguel Castro, 21-7, 21-14, while the Baby Falcons’ Jefferson Marapoc and Evander Novillo downed De La Salle-Zobel’s Andre Espejo and Leinuel Crisostomo, 21-9, 21-16.
With their fourth loss in six matches, the Junior Green Spikers and the Blue Eaglets are on the brink of missing the semis.