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[av_heading heading=’Tigresses enters UAAP beach volleyball finals ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses got an outright finals seat in the UAAP Season 80 women’s beach volleyball after sweeping their elimination round matches.
Golden Tigresses’ Cherry Rondina and Caitlyn Viray completed the 7-0 sweep after a 22-20, 17-21, 15-13 win over Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza of Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Thursday at the Sands by The Bay in Pasay City.
Both teams had a tight exchange in the first set with the Golden Tigresses holding to a 16-13 lead but the Lady Tamaraws forced several deadlocks with last at 20-all. The Golden Tigresses then clinched the set with a Viray down-the-line hit and an error by Pons.
In the second set, the Lady Tamaraws went on a strong start for a 15-10 lead but the Golden Tigresses rallied back to come to within 16-17. Three straight points by Pons hand the set to the Lady Tamaraws to force a deciding set.
In the third set, the Golden Tigresses and the Lady Tamaraws exchanged leads with the score tied at 12-all. Viray then came alive with three consecutive points for the Golden Tigresses to claim the victory.
“Magandang experience ‘yun para kay Cait na baguhan pa lang kasi sobrang tough ng labanan, sobrang tough kalaban ang FEU talaga, buti nga naka-isa kami,” said Rondina.
Meanwhile, De La Salle University Lady Spikers’ May Luna and Ernestine Tiamzon claimed the fourth and last semifinals set with a 21-10, 21-9 win over Ateneo Lady Eagles’ Bea de Leon and Jules Samonte.
With the Golden Tigresses sweeping their way to the finals, the semifinals headed to a step-ladder affair with No. 4 Lady Spikers and no. 3 University of the Philippines Lady Maroons facing in a knockout match.
The Lady Spikers-Lady Maroons winner, meanwhile, will face No. 2 Lady Tamaraws in the second phase of the semifinals. The Lady Tamaraws owns a twice-to-beat advantage./PN
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