Perpetual Help, Letran finish 1-2
UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System Dalta and Letran secured twice-to-beat Final Four incentives in the women’s division after finishing in the top two of the NCAA beach volleyball eliminations at the Subic Bay Sand Court.
Mary Ann Dapol and Janine Padua dropped a set for the first time this season, but the duo produced a dominant showing in the decider to beat San Sebastian’s Kat Santos and Kristine Dionisio, 21-12, 17-21, 15-4, extending the Lady Altas’ perfect run to eight matches.
The victory also gave Perpetual the No. 1 ranking in today’s Final Four regardless of the result of its late afternoon match with San Beda.
The Lady Knights ended their elims campaign with a six-match winning streak, as Cha Cuñada and Lara Mae Silva needed 52 minutes to subdue College of Saint Benilde’s Jessa Dorog and Wielyn Estoque, 11- 21, 22-20, 15- 11, and turned back Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Cathrine Almazan and Monna Bañares, 21-13, 21-23, 15-9.
Letran clinched the No. 2 ranking in the semis with a 8-1 card.
Despite the loss, the Lady Generals are already in the Final Four together with the three-peat seeking Lady Red Spikers.
Almazan and Bañares rallied from a set down to beat Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Joan Daguna and Ritanhelle Perez, 17-21, 21-15, 15-2, to give EAC its seventh win in nine matches.
Trisha Paras and Max Tayag upended Mapua’s Francine Macatangay and Raina Vergino 21-18, 21-8, and made quick work of San Sebastian’s Santos and Dionisio, 21-10, 21-10, giving San Beda the remaining semis berth at 6-2.
The Lady Blazers’ Dorog and Estoque scored a 21-15, 21-7 win over Arellano University’s Harem Ceballos and Marianne Padillon to end their elims stint with a 5-4 card, falling short of their Final Four bid.
In the men’s division, Perpetual’s Louie Ramirez and Jeff Marapoc outlasted San Sebastian’s Kyle Villamor and Jan Araño, 21-16, 16-21, 15-6, to secure the twice-to-beat bonus in the Final Four.
Ramirez and Marapoc later completed the Altas’ nine-match elims sweep with a close 26-24, 23-21 decision of San Beda’s Aidjien Rus and Mohammad Tahiluddin.
Titleholder EAC also bagged the semis incentive as Ralph Pitogo and Joshua Ramilo swept Arellano University’s Adrian Villados and Arman Guinto, 21-15, 21-18.
In other women’s morning session results, JRU finally earned its first win at the expense of San Sebastian, 21-16, 21-15, but lost to Lyceum of the Philippines University, 14-21, 16-21.
Other men’s morning results showed JRU winning two straight – a 21-11, 21-13 conquest of San Sebastian, and a 21-17, 21-13 tripping of LPU. San Beda outlasted Mapua, 21-19, 19-21, 15-10, while Benilde swept Letran, 21-14, 21-18.