ATENEO and University of Santo Tomas booked the first two ‘Final Four’ slots in the women’s division of the UAAP beach volleyball tournament Saturday at the UE Caloocan sand court.
Lady Eagles’ Alyssa Valdez and Bea Tan turned back Shedd dela Peña and Loryvel Faytaren of Far Eastern University, 21-17, 21-13, while the Tigresses pair of Maru Banaticla and Judy Caballejo outlasted Aia del Mundo and Pau Genido of University of the Philippines, 21-12, 21-14.
Ateneo and UST improved to 5-1 to remain tied on top of the standings.
The Lady Eagles bounced back from a 18-21, 12-21 loss to the Tigresses last Wednesday which paved the way for the event’s first-ever ‘Final Four’ in the distaff side.
Defending champion Adamson moved closer in claiming a spot in the semifinals after Pau Soriano and Sheila Pineda clobbered Lucille Bayron and Mary Grace Diesta of National University, 21-8, 21-11.
University of the East survived another must-win game as Jimberly Dawn Dizon and Jessica Paron nipped La Salle’s Michelle Gumabao and Camille Cruz, 10-21, 21-13, 20-18.
The Lady Falcons are in third place with a 4-2 card, while Lady Warriors raised their record to 3-3 and join the Lady Tamaraws and the Lady Archers in fourth spot.
The Lady Maroons and the Lady Bulldogs are out of it all with their 1-5 and 0-6 slates, respectively.
In the men’s division, FEU moved a win away in completing a seven-game sweep of the eliminations at an outright finals berth by drubbing NU, 21-17, 21-19.
UST, meanwhile, outplayed DLSU, 21-18, 21-18, Adamson downed UE, 21-13, 21-8, and UP waylaid Ateneo, 21-18, 21-15.
Elimination round action in both divisions will end Sunday. (TJ)
