ILOILO City – The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Sands duo of Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara emerged champions of the 1st Mayor Raisa S. Treñas International Women’s Beach Volleyball Tournament on Sunday here.
The Tiger Sands tandem survived a tense battle from Japan’s Nippon Sports Science University-A of Kokoro Taniguchi and Yuna Maki to secure a 21-19, 19-21, 15-10 win in the gold medal match at the Joe III Garden.
Progella, who was named Most Valuable Player, said the two-day tournament as an important step in Tiger Sands’ desire to bounce back in the UAAP Season 88 beach volleyball tournament later this year.
The Tiger Sands fell short of retaining their championship in Season 87 after losing to National University Lady Bulldogs’ Honey Grace Cordero and Kathrina Epa.
“We are using this tournament as part of our UAAP preparations. Gustong gusto naman na mabawi ang korona especially kami ang host this season,” Progella told Panay News.
Cordero and Epa, meanwhile, secured a bronze medal finish after pulling off a gritty 16-21, 21-13, 15-10 comeback win over Japan-B of Ibuki Matsuzaki and Momone Aoki.
Other teams who participated are Iloilo’s Central Philippine University, led by Cherry Bagnate and Candice Damacino, and Western Institute of Technology, bannered by Charity Rivera and Kristel Lacaran.
Other schools who joined were Bacolod, represented by Divine Yanson and Abriel Rouge Alvero; San Beda, bannered by Marielle Teves and Bea Udarbe; National University-B, which will parade Kizil Quijote and Liezl Dejan; and De La Salle University-Dasmariñas will feature Janela Berna Sabado and April Rose Tre-inta.
The Iloilo-based tournament marked a milestone for local beach volleyball, being the first event to feature a foreign squad in the city.
“This is a historic sports event involving a foreign team,” said Gametime Sports founder Rodolfo Go “Ka Ruding” Villaruz. “We are thankful to the Iloilo City LGU, through the Office of Sports and Youth Development, for partnering with us.”/PN
