UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas moved within a win of an elimination round sweep in the women’s division as reigning MVP Judy Caballejo and Maru Banaticla downed National University’s Dindin Santiago and Jen Reyes, 21-13, 21-15, in the UAAP Season 75 beach volleyball tournament Sunday at the UE Caloocan sand court.
The Tigresses, who are seeking their second straight crown, improved to 6-0 and a win over Ateneo on Wednesday would give the España-based spikers an automatic entry to the Finals with a tremendous ‘thrice-to-beat’ edge.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, stole the spotlight in men’s play as the duo of Josephenry Tipay and Edwin Tolentino snapped defending champion Far Eastern University’s 20-game winning streak, prevailing over the pair of Arvin Avila and Karl dela Calzada, 21-19, 15-21, 15-11.
Aside from ending the Tamaraws’ league record run, the Bulldogs clinched their first-ever Final Four stint in men’s beach volley.
Adamson and La Salle also clinched semis spots by beating their respective foes.
The Lady Falcons pair of Pau Soriano and Sheila Pineda walloped University of the East’s Jessica Paron and Francislyn Cais 21-1, 21-13 while Wensh Tiu and Kim Fajardo of the Lady Archers downed Aia del Mundo and Pau Genido 21-6, 21-11.
Adamson and La Salle remain in joint second at 5-1 and will face each other on Wednesday.
FEU scored a walkover against Ateneo in the other women’s match to barge into the win column after five consecutive losses.
In badminton, defending men’s champion Ateneo arranged a Finals rematch with unbeaten National University by ousting La Salle, 3-1, in the step-ladder semifinals Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Reigning MVP Toby Gadi beat John Kenneth Monterubio 21-19, 21-14 in the second singles match after Patrick Natividad overcame JC Clarito in the opening singles 21-13, 20-22, 21-15.
The third-seeded Green Archers gained a lifeline when Lance Bautista and Ronel Estanislao won the first doubles match 21-10, 21-10 over JC Carlos and Miko Mallilin 21-10, 21-10.
Gadi and Patrick Natividad teamed up for Ateneo in sealing the tie as they subdued Carlos Cayanan and Gerald Sibayan 21-13, 21-14 in the second doubles.
The Eagles and the Bulldogs begin their title showdown on Saturday. By completing an elimination-round sweep, the Bulldogs gained an outright passage in the Finals with a huge thrice-to-beat incentive.
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