UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas and De La Salle carved out contrasting semifinal wins to arrange a finals rematch in the UAAP Season 82 Women's Beach Volleyball Tournament Saturday at Sands SM By The Bay.
The four-peat seeking Golden Tigresses of Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor improved to 8-0 this season following a 21-7, 21-8 victory over Ateneo's Ponggay Gaston and Roma Mae Doromal.
Tin Tiamzon and Justine Jazareno edged out Sheena Gallentes and Sheila Mae Kiseo of Far Eastern University, 21-18, 19-21, 15-11, giving the Lady Spikers their second consecutive championship round stint.
The Lady Eagles then clinched their first podium finish in four years, rallying from a set down to beat the Lady Tamaraws, 20-22, 21-17, 15-13. It was Ateneo's best finish since Alyssa Valdez and Bea Tan also ended up third in 2015.
UST and De La Salle open their best-of-three series at 8:40 a.m. Sunday.
The Tigresses, who are actually 27-0 dating back from 2016, are gunning for a seventh crown overall, the most in the league.
The Lady Spikers, meanwhile, shoot for their second championship, and the first since the 2015 season behind Kim Fajardo and Cyd Demecillo.