Pinoy Spikers (Philippine Spike)

ADAMSON won its second straight women’s division title as Angela Benting and Pau Soriano defeated an overachieving La Salle duo of Charleen Cruz and Amanda Villanueva, 21-17, 21-14, at the end of the UAAP beach volleyball tournament Saturday at the UE Caloocan sand court.

The fatigue factor has caught the Lady Archers, who underwent two grueling stepladder matches to advance to the finals, which the Lady Falcons fully took advantage and finish the season with an unbeaten 8-0 record.

“Masaya ako at nag-champion kami sa last playing year ko.  Dahil sa alam kong pagod na sila kaya sinabi ko kay Pau (Soriano) na sundin lang ang game plan natin at huwag silang mabigyan ng kumpiyansa,” said Benting, who was named the tournament MVP for the second straight season.

The second place finish by La Salle is the best ever since the women’s beach volleyball event was included as a regular sport in 2007.

Despite being seeded fourth, the Lady Archers made a remarkable run in the stepladder semifinals.

La Salle stunned the University of Santo Tomas tandem of Sarah Jane Gonzales and Judy Ann Caballejo, 21-19, 8-21, 15-9, in the first stepladder match before ousting Far Eastern University’s Shaira Gonzalez and Shedd dela Peña, 21-14, 18-21, 16-14, to arrange their finals duel with Adamson.

The Lady Falcons have equaled the Lady Tamaraws with the most number of women’s beach volley crowns with two apiece.

In the men’s division, the Tamaraws regained the championship as season MVP Nestor Molate and Arvin Avila beat the Growling Tigers duo of Henry Pecaña and Harby Ilano, 21-12, 21-16.

It was the third men’s beach volley crown for FEU, which is also undefeated in eight matches this season.

UST marched to the finals after surviving two stepladder semis games against Mico Lucindo and Jeff Langsangan of University of the Philippines, 21-11, 17-21, 15-11, and Adamson’s Hendrix Competente and Gilbert Longavela, 14-21, 21-18, 15-6.  (TJ)