National University and the University of Santo Tomas needed three games to dispatch their respective opponents this past weekend to secure the UAAP titles for men's and women's beach volleyball at the sand courts of UE Caloocan.
The tandem of Josephenry Tipay and Edwin Tolentino for National University downed the Tiger Spikers duo of Kris Roy Guzman and Mark Alfafara to secure their third straight title in the men's division and matching FEU for the most number of titles since the event became part of the official UAAP calendar.
On Saturday, NU took Game 1, 15-21, 21-18, and 17-15, but UST forced a winner-take-all on Sunday with a 23-21 and 21-16 victory.
The decided went to the full three-set limit, 19-21, 21-18, and 17-15, with Tipay securing the match-clinching kill. He was then awarded the Most Valuable Player crown.
"Great exit, napakaganda ng team chemistry namin," said Tipay. "Hindi naging madali para sa amin, pero nandoon ang puso namin. Hindi kami nagpabaya."
Tiger Spikers head coach Emil Lontoc remained positive in spite of the defeat, saying "Masaya pa rin. Mag-aral na lang tayo sa pagkukulang natin at 'yung tama, itama pa natin ng todo."
UE's Edward Camposano was named as the Rookie of the Year.
In the women's side, the rookie duo of Cherry Rondina and Rica Rivera belied their perceived inexperience to lead UST back atop the heap, taking down La Salle in three games.
Undefeated in the eliminations, UST took Game 1, 21-15 and 25-23, ending the match on a Rivera service ace.
La Salle finally managed to put a blemish on the Lady Spikers' record in Game 2, 16-21, 22-20, and 18-16, as Cyd Demecillo secured the final two points needed to establish the win and prevent the sweep.
Securing a split forced a Game 3 on Sunday morning. UST started off slow, going down 0-4, but managed to regroup, eventually uncorking ten straight points to take control of the match. They would eventually win the first set, 21-15.
The second set saw a curious move by DLSU head coach Ramil de Jesus, inserting Ara Galang in place of Demecillo to partner with Kim Fajardo, but the change did not faze UST as Rondina's service ace ensured a 16-6 lead, allowing the Lady Spikers to eventually coast to a 21-11 win.
Rondina was named as the MVP, while Rivera was named as the Rookie of the Year. The tandem already brought honor to the school this past summer at the Philippine National Games, netting a silver medal for their efforts.
"Na-pressure lang kami siguro, nadala lang siguro kami sa cheering ng mga tao," said Rondina, adding that, "Hindi ako makapaniwala kasi mga beterano kasi ang mga kinalaban namin. Ang sa amin eh yung maglaro kung anong itinuro sa amin ni coach (Emil Lontoc)."
Lontoc gave the ladies their due, "Fast learner sila. Pagdating sa ball training, doon sila lumalamang sa mga kalaban at the same time 'yung ball quickness. Kapag nag-mature pa sila, mas malaki pa ang tiyansa manalo."
Rivera chimed in, "Malaking achievement kasi nga Rookie of the Year, pero mas masayang part na nag-champion kami, na 'yun nakuha naming title as rookies."
In an interview, de Jesus explained that the decision to replace Cyd with Ara was due to the former having a problem with her right foot that came up after Game 2.
The tandem of Josephenry Tipay and Edwin Tolentino for National University downed the Tiger Spikers duo of Kris Roy Guzman and Mark Alfafara to secure their third straight title in the men's division and matching FEU for the most number of titles since the event became part of the official UAAP calendar.
On Saturday, NU took Game 1, 15-21, 21-18, and 17-15, but UST forced a winner-take-all on Sunday with a 23-21 and 21-16 victory.
The decided went to the full three-set limit, 19-21, 21-18, and 17-15, with Tipay securing the match-clinching kill. He was then awarded the Most Valuable Player crown.
"Great exit, napakaganda ng team chemistry namin," said Tipay. "Hindi naging madali para sa amin, pero nandoon ang puso namin. Hindi kami nagpabaya."
Tiger Spikers head coach Emil Lontoc remained positive in spite of the defeat, saying "Masaya pa rin. Mag-aral na lang tayo sa pagkukulang natin at 'yung tama, itama pa natin ng todo."
UE's Edward Camposano was named as the Rookie of the Year.
In the women's side, the rookie duo of Cherry Rondina and Rica Rivera belied their perceived inexperience to lead UST back atop the heap, taking down La Salle in three games.
Undefeated in the eliminations, UST took Game 1, 21-15 and 25-23, ending the match on a Rivera service ace.
La Salle finally managed to put a blemish on the Lady Spikers' record in Game 2, 16-21, 22-20, and 18-16, as Cyd Demecillo secured the final two points needed to establish the win and prevent the sweep.
Securing a split forced a Game 3 on Sunday morning. UST started off slow, going down 0-4, but managed to regroup, eventually uncorking ten straight points to take control of the match. They would eventually win the first set, 21-15.
The second set saw a curious move by DLSU head coach Ramil de Jesus, inserting Ara Galang in place of Demecillo to partner with Kim Fajardo, but the change did not faze UST as Rondina's service ace ensured a 16-6 lead, allowing the Lady Spikers to eventually coast to a 21-11 win.
Rondina was named as the MVP, while Rivera was named as the Rookie of the Year. The tandem already brought honor to the school this past summer at the Philippine National Games, netting a silver medal for their efforts.
"Na-pressure lang kami siguro, nadala lang siguro kami sa cheering ng mga tao," said Rondina, adding that, "Hindi ako makapaniwala kasi mga beterano kasi ang mga kinalaban namin. Ang sa amin eh yung maglaro kung anong itinuro sa amin ni coach (Emil Lontoc)."
Lontoc gave the ladies their due, "Fast learner sila. Pagdating sa ball training, doon sila lumalamang sa mga kalaban at the same time 'yung ball quickness. Kapag nag-mature pa sila, mas malaki pa ang tiyansa manalo."
Rivera chimed in, "Malaking achievement kasi nga Rookie of the Year, pero mas masayang part na nag-champion kami, na 'yun nakuha naming title as rookies."
In an interview, de Jesus explained that the decision to replace Cyd with Ara was due to the former having a problem with her right foot that came up after Game 2.
