Pinoy Spikers (Philippine Spike)

SHEDD dela Peña and Loryvel Faytaren of Far Eastern University stunned Pau Soriano and Sheila Pineda of defending women’s champion Adamson, 26-24, 21-17, in a rainy start of the UAAP beach volleyball tournament Saturday at the UE Caloocan sand court.

Soriano and Pineda, who took over from Season 73 MVP Angela Benting who have already used up her playing years, were not able to adjust with the windy conditions which the Lady Tamaraws took advantage.

FEU took the opening set via a set-winning ace by dela Peña and joined forces with Faytaren in controlling the tempo of the match in the second frame to clinch the victory.

The Lady Falcons are seeking for a ‘three-peat’ in the month-long tournament.

Pre-tournament favorites Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas blasted their respective foes for a winning start.

Alyssa Valdez and Bea Tan of Lady Eagles routed Mary Grace Diesta and Lucille Bayron of National University, 21-6, 21-10, while the Tigresses pair of Maru Banaticla and Judy Caballejo crushed La Salle’s Michelle Gumabao and rookie Camille Cruz, 21-5, 21-13.

Valdez and Tan, who competed in an international competition last month, used their vast experience to the hilt, while Banaticla and Caballejo left the Lady Archers behind the opening set by racing to a 11-0 lead.

In the other distaff side match, Aia del Mundo and Pau Genido of the University of the Philippines bucked a second set loss to edge University of the East’s Jimberly Dawn Dizon and Jessica Paron, 21-19, 18-21, 15-13. (TJ)

LETRAN swept all its nine women’s elimination round matches, while San Beda College advanced to the ‘Final Four’ for the first time Saturday in the NCAA beach volleyball tournament at the La Salle Greenhills sand court.

Gena Andaya and Manel Carolino of the Lady Knights tripped Arellano University’s Mary Jane Ticar and Jennilyn Lunar, 21-14, 22-20 to keep their unblemished slate in the event supported by Speedo and LGR.

The Lioness booked the last semifinals berth after Coline Malana and Janine Marciano downed Jose Rizal University’s Joanna Clemente and Marjanette Echano, 23-21, 21-11.

San Beda will face Letran in the knockout ‘Final Four’ slated at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Reigning titlist University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (8-1) and College of Saint Benilde (7-2) collide in the other semis pairing.

The Lioness and the Lady Bombers are tied at 5-4 card, but the Mendiola-based spikers took the No. 4 spot by virtue of a higher FIVB quotient.

Serving as a warm-up to their ‘Final Four’ duel, April Ann Sartin and Norie Diaz of the Lady Altas defeated the Lady Blazers duo of Rossan Fajardo and Jannine Navarro, 21-13, 21-19.

In the men’s division, Perpetual Help also completed a nine-game elims sweep after Jay dela Cruz and Marcelo Joaquin outplayed St. Benilde’s Jerome Sibal and Marjun Alingasa, 21-16, 21-10.

The Altas and the Blazers cross paths anew in today’s semis, while the Chiefs and the Knights battle in the other pairing.  (TJ)

DEFENDING champion University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, Letran and College of Saint Benilde remain unscathed after beating their respective foes in the women’s division of the NCAA beach volleyball tournament Sunday at the La Salle Greenhills sand court.

The Lady Altas duo of April Ann Sartin and Norie Diaz won over Lyceum’s Tin Casanova and Rosaliada Lualhati, 21-17, 21-17, while the Lady Knights pair of Gena Andaya and Manel Carolino defeated Jose Rizal University’s Joanna Clemente and Marjanette Echano, 21-12, 21-14, and Rossan Fajardo and Jannine Navarro of the Lady Blazers subdued Charmille Belleza and Charlette Lorenzo of Emilio Aguinaldo College, 21-9, 21-17. Read the rest of this entry »