Pinoy Spikers (Philippine Spike)

DEFENDING champion University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, College of Saint Benilde and Letran Sunday advanced to the women’s division ‘Final Four’ of the NCAA beach volleyball tournament at the La Salle Greenhills sand court.

Reigning MVP Keshia de Luna and April Ann Sartin of the Lady Altas beat Arellano University’s Mary Ann Calleja and Mary Jane Diane Ticar, 21-14, 21-15, and crushed the Mapua tandem of Rachelle Tan and Patricia Aquino, 21-7, 21-8, for a 7-0 card.

The Lady Blazers pair of Giza Yumang and Rossan Fajardo, meanwhile, topped Annabelle Dionela and Charmelle Belleza of Emilio Aguinaldo College, 21-18, 21-7, and subdued Joanna Clemente and Marjanette Echano of Jose Rizal University, 21-11, 21-18.

Gena Andaya and Manel Carolino of the Lady Knights were not far behind, beating Clemente and Echano of the Lady Bombers, 21-7, 21-13; and followed up with a 21-11, 22-20 smashing of the San Beda College duo of Cherry Mae Quizon and Coline Malana.

St. Benilde moved up to second place with a 6-1 record, while Letran finished the eliminations with a 6-2 card in third place.

EAC inched closer in claiming the last semis berth with Dionela and Belleza scored a 21-11, 21-17 crushing of Bea Uy and Karen Berbano of San Sebastian College.

The Lady Generals improved to 4-3 card, one game ahead of the Lady Chiefs and the Lionesses who are tied in No. 5 with identical 3-4 slates.

ASIA Urquico and Sharah So of Ateneo made a gallant stand before losing to reigning MVP Angela Benting and Pau Soriano, of Adamson, 21-19, 11-21, 8-15, Sunday in the UAAP beach volleyball tournament at the UE Caloocan sand court.

With Benting and Soriano struggling, the Lady Eagles seized the opening frame.

But Urquico and So could not get their rhythm going in the next two sets, allowing the defending champion Lady Falcons to recover with their powerful spikes and good combination plays to score a 2-0 record.

Ateneo fell to a four-way tie at 1-1 card along with University of Santo Tomas, University of the East and University of the Philippines.

The Lady Eagles next opponent is the Lady Warriors on Wednesday.

ADAMSON started its women’s title retention bid on a bright not as Angela Benting and Pau Soriano beat La Salle’s Charleen Cruz and Amanda Villanueva, 21-9, 22-20, at the start of the UAAP beach volleyball tournament yesterday at the UE Caloocan sand court.

Benting, the reigning MVP, sealed the win by the Lady Falcons with a match-winning hit which the Lady Archers failed the save from the sidelines.

Season 72 runner-up Far Eastern University, said to be Adamson’s biggest threat for the crown, made its presence felt as Shaira Gonzalez and Shedd dela Peña nipped Judy Ann Caballejo and Sarah Jane Gonzales of University of Santo Tomas, 15-21, 21-19, 15-11.
Read the rest of this entry »