THE Ateneo De Manila University Blue Spikers took their first-ever men’s crown as Marck Espejo and Ysay Marasigan tripped the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers squad of Kris Roy Guzman and Anthony Arbasto, 21-16, 21-19, in Game 4 Wednesday of the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) beach volleyball finals at the Mall of Asia Sands by the Bay.
Espejo and Marasigan went through four games in holding off the Growling Tigers.
University of Santo Tomas dragged the thrice-to-beat Blue Eagles to a decider with a 21-14, 21-16 win in Game 3.
They held the thrice-to-beat Ateneo De Manila University spikers to their first loss in the tournament when Guzman and Arbasto pulled off a 21-13, 21-17 victory in the opener.
But Espejo and Marasigan struck back in Game 2, giving the Blue Eagles the advantage with a come-from-behind 19-21, 21-15, 15-12 win.
“Nagbunga lahat ng paghihirap namin,” said Espejo.
Marasigan, who is in his final year, was named the Most Valuable Player while Far Eastern University Tamaraw Jude Garcia is the Rookie of the Year.