UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas hammered out a 28-26, 21-15 victory National University to complete a three-peat in the UAAP men’s beach volleyball tournament at Sands SM By The Bay yesterday.

A two-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist, Jaron Requinton was able to get the job done after he was fielded at the end of the eliminations to boost the Growling Tigers’ title-retention bid.

“Sobrang challenging po sa akin kasi sa national team defender ako, so pagpasok ko sa training bubble ng UST, kailangan ko pong mag-adjust kasi ako po yung blocker,” said Requinton.

“One week ako nag-training na puro block, block, block hanggang sa pinasok po ako,” he added.

It was Requinton’s block on Pol Salvador that won the extended first set for the Tigers.

UST raced to 7-2 second set lead and later pulled away by scoring four straight points for a 16-9 advantage on a Requinton ace.

The Bulldogs, making their first Finals stint since 2017, never recovered from there.

The Growling Tigers remained as the league’s winningest squad with six championships.

Playing in front of his family and friends who flew all the way from Cebu over the weekend, Rancel Varga was named the tournament for the second straight season.

“Yung MVP bonus po iyon. Our goal talaga is to win the championship, yung three-peat po,” said Varga, whose go-ahead kill late in the first set shattered the 26-26 deadlock.

“Sobrang saya kasi nandito ulit yung family ko. Sobrang saya kasi na-witness po nila kung ano yung pinaghirapan namin ng ilang taon,” he added.

Requinton, who was listed as third player, praised Efraem Dimaculangan for teaming up with Varga for helping the Tigers win four of the first five matches.

“Sobrang nakaka-proud kasi from defender to blocker, na-accept yung role na ibinigay ng mga coaches na nagampanan niya ng maayos,” said Varga.

La Salle earlier carved out a 21-17, 21-17 win over University of the Philippines to secure the bronze medal.

It was the Green Spikers’ best-ever finish in the event, with Noel Kampton winning the Rookie of the Year honors.