COLLEGE of Saint Benilde has not found an antidote yet to beat San Sebastian College in the NCAA beach volleyball tournament.
Margarita Pepito and Russel Jalbuna of the Lady Stags foiled Lady Blazers’ Giza Yumang and LC Quemada’s bid for a seven-game elimination round sweep with a 21-18, 13-21, 17-15 victory Saturday night at the Cantada Sports Center in Taguig City.
San Sebastian, the defending champion in the event backed by Mikasa, Gatorade, Speedo and Cheers, forged a three-way tie on top with University of Perpetual Help System Dalta and St. Benilde at 6-1.
The Lady Stags are gunning for a ‘three-peat’ in the tournament hosted by Jose Rizal University, with Paul Supan as event chairman.
Yumang and Quemada of the Lady Blazers dealt April Ann Sartin and Keshia de Luna of the Lady Altas their first loss of the season with a thrilling 21-23, 26-24, 17-15 victory.
Pepito and Jalbuna also shone in San Sebastian’s 24-22, 21-16 triumph over Letran’s Kriszelle Moralejo and Gena Andaya.
Guest team Arellano University, on the other hand, clinched the last semis berth as Sheena Teves and Cherry Ferrer nipped Letran, 16-21, 21-13, 15-11 last Sunday. Teves and Ferrer earlier beat San Beda’s Che Aquio and Coline Malana, 21-14, 21-7.
The Lady Chiefs finished the eliminations with a 4-3 card, while the Lady Knights were booted out of contention with their fourth setback in seven games in fifth place.
Single-round semifinals will start on Saturday. (TJ)
