MANILA – University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses started their title-retention bid in the UAAP Season 81 beach volleyball with a victory at The Sands in Pasay City.
Tigresses’ Cherry Rondina and Babylove Barbon made quick work of University of the Philippines Lady Maroons’ Isa Molde and Justine Dorog 21-12, 21-12 Monday for an early lead.
Now on her final year and eyeing her fourth beach volleyball title, Rondina played in sync with new partner Barbon as they pestered Molde and Dorog for a lopsided victory.
“Same lang naman pero hindi siya pressure. Nasa-sad lang ako kasi siyempre last year,” Rondina said.
“Sana makuha namin ito para maganda iyong exit. Siyempre hindi rin kami – ako – papayag na aalis akong walang makuha. Tatrabahuhin pa rin naming,” she added.
Hannah Nicole Infante and Gracelchen Ave of Adamson University Lady Falcons also had a winning start as they rolled past University of the East Lady Warriors’ Rhea Manalo and Lyen Shan Ritual 21-14, 21-15.
On the other hand De La Salle University Lady Spikers’ Ernestine Tiamzon and Michelle Morente overcame a second set meltdown to beat Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws’ Ivana Agudo and Marianne Calinawan 21-14, 20-22, 15-10.
National University Lady Bulldogs’ Klymince Orilleneda and Antonnete Landicho, meanwhile, clinched their first win after topping Ateneo Lady Eagles’ Pauline Gaston and Jules Samonte 21-11, 21-14./PN
