By Jean Malanum
MANILA – University of Santo Tomas rolled to its fifth straight win in the girls division to boost its title campaign in the UAAP Season 88 high school beach volleyball at Sands SM By The Bay.
Grithney Dadang and Angelica Del Mar dominated Ateneo’s Louise Atienza and Jelena Dait, 21-9, 21-6, and University of the East’s Janella Mangahis and Nicole Agustin, 21-6, 21-3, to reach the Final Four over the weekend.
Defending champion National University Nazareth School, meanwhile, moved closer to securing a semis berth with a 4-1 card after Faith Mangyao and Alaiza Candelario conquered De La Salle-Zobel’s Aislinn Alemaña and Tessa Bonafe, 21-10, 21-16, and Ateneo’s Atienza and Ainsly Santiago, 21-7, 21-10.
Adamson University remained in third place with a 3-1 slate after Maegan Pineda and Ella Gonzalvo pulled off a 21-7, 21-5 victory over UE’s Mangahis and Agustin.
Far Eastern University-Diliman’s Franz Premaylon and Alexa Amana prevailed over University of the Philippines Integrated School’s Anya Capus and Niña Abad, 19-21, 21-17, 15-13, to forge a three-way tie for fourth place with UP and DLSZ at 2-2.
In the boys division, UST and NUNS finished with identical 5-0 records to grab the first two semifinal slots.
UST’s Mark Bihag and JP Apidian defeated UPIS’ Marco Bamba and Prince Jimenez, 21-12, 21-11, and UE’s Mharl Dullete and Cedie Camposano, 21-8, 21-12.
NUNS’ Kian Tan and Ethan Jadraque, on the other hand, downed UE’s Dullete and Emman Marcelino, 21-16, 24-22, and Ateneo’s Antonio Castillo and Ymanuel Cervantes, 21-2, 21-8.
UE slid to 3-2, ahead Adamson University, which improved to 2-2 after Brice Malinao and James Bernabe outplayed De La Salle-Zobel’s John Kooper Arguelles and Brett Urriquia, 21-16, 21-14.
FEU-Diliman finally barged into the win column after Sam Coronel and Kenneth Maliwanag downed Ateneo’s Xavier Castillo and Cervantes, 21-14, 21-10.
FEU-D, UP and DLSZ have similar 1-3 slates. (PNA)
