MANILA – National University Lady Bulldogs dethroned University of Santo Tomas Tiger Sands with a 21-16, 19-21, 15-11 upset in the UAAP Season 87 women’s beach volleyball finals on Tuesday night at the SM Sands By The Bay in Pasay City.
Negrense Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa took turns on the offensive end for the Lady Bulldogs to defeat Tiger Sands’ Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella to capture their first-ever UAAP women’s beach volleyball title.
“Sobrang saya po nanalo kami ng championship against UST dahil defending champion po sila. May pride po sila para maipaglaban ang championship,” said Cordero, who was later named women’s division MVP.
The championship was sweet for the Lady Bulldogs, who were runner-ups in the last two UAAP seasons and lost to the Tiger Sands in the elimination round finale on Sunday morning.
“Hindi kami sumuko at ipinaglaban namin kung ano ang dapat ipinaglaban namin,” added Cordero, a native of Silay City in Negros Occidental.
With the unexpected defeat, the Tiger Sands saw their championship run end at six. Overall, the Espana-based volleybelles remained the winningest beach volleyball team with nine titles.
Meanwhile, the UST Tiger Sands pair of tournament MVP Dominique Gabito and Alche Gupiteo carried the men’s squad to a six-peat and a ninth crown overall by sweeping the NU Bulldogs’ Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino, 21-13, 21-16.
“Nag-prepare po kami; halos one year rin po naming pinaghirapan ito. 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.
Far Eastern University, meanwhile, completed a sweep of bronze medals as Lady Tamaraws’ Lovely Lopez and Negrense Melody Pons defeated Adamson’s Shai Nitura and Fei Sagaysay, 21-15, 21-10, while Tamaraws Amet Bituin and Reynan Postorioso overcame University of the Philippines’ Angelo Lipata and Christian Pitogo, 21-19, 21-13./PN
