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By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The University of Santo Tomas completed a rare sweep in the UAAP 79 beach volleyball tournament after ruling the men’s and women’s division on Sunday at the Sands by the Bay in Pasay City.
The Golden Tigresses pair of Cherry Rondina and Jem Guttierez turned back the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws duo of Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza, 21-17, 21-10, in the do-or-die Game 3 of their best-of-three finals.
“Yung last season kasi wala na iyon. It’s another chapter naman,” said Rondina, who won her second MVP award in three years.
“Noong nagbago ang coaching staff at ang partner ko, sinabi ng coach namin na ito ang panibagong libro, ang front page. Yung mga pages po, ito ang training namin. Ito (championship) ang last page namin.”
The Golden Tigresses banked on a strong start in the second frame of Game 3, as Rondina scored the first five points of the set and nailed a championship-clincher to seal the deal.
“Si ate Jem (Gutierrez) sobrang masunurin talaga kahit senior ko siya,” said Rondina, who was then paired with Rica Rivera when the Golden Tigresses won the crown in her rookie season in 2014.
The Golden Tigresses were forced to a sudden-death game after losing to the Lady Tamaraws in Game 2, 17-21, 21-17, 15-13, earlier in the day. The España-based spikers had scored a straight-set win in Game 1, 21-17, 21-9, on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Tiger Spikers of Kris Roy Guzman and Anthony Arbasto completed their unbeaten run in the men’s division with a 21-16, 21-16 win over FEU Tamaraws’ Jude Garcia and Jeremiah Barrica in Game 2 of the finals.
“Thank you kay God kasi hindi niya kami pinabayaan, alam ko ibinigay Niya ang pinakamabigat Niyang challenge sa pinakamalakas niyang tao,” Guzman.
“Alam ko ‘yung three runner-up finish namin ‘yun ang nag-drive sa akin na mag-push pa hanggang makuha ko ang gusto ko. Hindi namin inakala ‘to, akala namin dream lang pero basta magsikap, magagawa mo,” added the men’s tournament MVP.
With the win, the Golden Tigresses became the most-awarded team in women’s beach volleyball with four titles, while the Tiger Spikers annexed its third men’s crown to tie with the Tamaraws and the National University Bulldogs./PN
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