Tiger Sands, Lady Spikers secure Final Four ticket
By Ernest Martin Tuazon
In its bid to defend their respective titles, the UST Tiger Sands and Lady Spikers have punched their Final Four tickets after maintaining a clean slate through three days of competition in the UAAP Season 85 collegiate beach volleyball tournament, Wednesday, at the SM Sands by the Bay.
The Lady Spikers, who seek their fifth consecutive chip in the tournament, improved their slate to 5–0 after reigning MVP Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor romped Adamson’s Mary Grace Borromeo and Aliah Marce in straight sets, 21–8, 21–12.
Barbon and Eslapor then secured a semifinals berth with a 21–2, 21–6 demolition of UE’s Ella Mae Capillano and Meriam Mungcal.
The Tiger Sands meanwhile, who look to extend their championship pedigree to four consecutive seasons, survived the challenge of FEU’s Vincent Nadera and Martin Bugaoan, 21–14, 22–20.
Led by reigning MVP Rancel Varga and Jaron Requinton, they then scored a sweep over Adamson’s Francis Casas and Evander Novillo, 21–12, 21–9, to notch a Final Four ticket and maintain their 5–0 standing.
Action resumes on Saturday, Nov. 26, where the Lady Spikers look to fend off NU, while their men counterparts seek to quickly drub UE.
The true test will come on Sunday morning, as the Lady Spikers face the Jolina Dela Cruz-led DLSU, while the Tiger Sands will take on the undefeated National U before the semifinals begin in the afternoon session.
