MANILA – University of Santo Tomas claimed a championship double in the UAAP Season 81 beach volleyball. It ruled the men’s and women’s event at the Sands SM By The Bay in Pasay City.
Cherry Rondina and Rookie of the Year Babylove Barbon made history in the women’s event as the Golden Tigresses captured its third consecutive title with a two-game sweep over the De La Salle University Lady Spikers of Michelle Morente and Ernestine Tiamzon.
Golden Tigresses overcame a tough second set to prevail over the Lady Spikers in Game 1, 21-12, 21-19, before following this up with a dominant 21-7, 21-16 win in Game 2.
For Rondina, who was again hailed as MVP, she was glad to end her beach volleyball career with another championship – her fourth in five years of playing for Golden Tigresses.
“Nag-start ako ng first year parang alam ko sa sarili ko na wala pang napapatunayan kasi ganito lang, maliit lang ako. Pero the time na nananalo kami, puwede pala,” said Rondina.
“Ang goal ko lang talaga manalo at makapagbigay para sa UST.”
Tiger Spikers, meanwhile, regained the men’s beach volleyball title after Krung Arbasto and Rookie of the Year Jaron Requinton edged Far Eastern University Tamaraws’ Jude Garcia and Richard Solis in two games.
Tiger Spikers halted the Tamaraws’ perfect run with a 21-14, 21-16 victory in the best-of-three Finals opener before following it up with a hard-earned 21-13, 22-24, 15-10 Game 2 win.
“Ang saya ko lang kasi graduating ako at lalabas ako ng UST na naibalik ang korona para sa kanila,” said Arbasto, who failed to clinch the crown last year with former partner Kris Roy Guzman./PN
