NATIONAL University annexed its first-ever women’s title as Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa outlasted University of Santo Tomas’ Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella, 21-16, 19-21, 15-11, in a thrilling UAAP Season 87 Beach Volleyball Final Tuesday at Sands SM By The Bay.
Cordero, who took over late in the decider after the Tiger Sands threatened at 9-10 by scoring three straight points, was named the season MVP.
The victory was sweet for the Lady Bulldogs, who were runner-ups in the last two seasons and lost to the Tiger Sands in the elimination round finale.
But NU won’t be denied, spoiling UST’s quest for a record 10th women’s championship.
“Sobrang saya po nanalo kami ng championship against UST dahil defending champion po sila. May pride po sila para maipaglaban ang championship,” Cordero said.
“Pero hindi kami sumuko at ipinaglaban namin kung ano ang dapat ipinaglaban namin,” she added.
There’s is still something to celebrate for the Tiger Sands, as tournament MVP Dominique Gabito and Alche Gupiteo carried the men’s squad to a six-peat and a ninth crown overall by sweeping the Bulldogs’ Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino, 21-13, 21-16.
“Nag-prepare po kami; halos one year rin po naming pinaghirapan ‘to. Kasi si Alche galing sa indoor ‘eh. Ako, bago lang ako, first ko lang maglaro sa MOA. Trinabaho talaga namin and sakto naman ‘yung naging preparation namin bago kami sumalang dito sa UAAP,” said Gabito.
UST went undefeated in nine matches without dropping a set.
Progella and Gemarino were named the Rookies of the Year.
Far Eastern University completed a sweep of bronze medals as Lovely Lopez and Melody Pons avenged its elimination round loss to Adamson’s Shai Nitura and Fei Sagaysay, 21-15, 21-10, while Amet Bituin and Reynan Postorioso overcame University of the Philippines’ Angelo Lipata and Christian Pitogo, 21-19, 21-13.
The Tamaraws placed third in the women’s and men’s divisions for a second season in a row.
In the women’s semifinal, Cordero and Epa trounced Nitura and Sagaysay, 21-12, 21-10, while Pagara and Progella defeated Lopez and Pons, 21-15, 21-15.
The Lady Bulldogs were upbeat on the morning of the final day.
“Pini-feel po namin na kaya naming manalo ng championship,” Epa said.
Gabito and Gupiteo made quick work of Pitogo and Lipata, 21-15, 21-12, while Iraya and Gemarino brushed off a tough first set stand by Bituin and Postorioso before hacking out a 22-20, 21-16 victory.
