The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Sands tandem Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella reached the quarterfinals of the Rebisco Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open on Friday, April 4, at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The Alas Pilipinas duo notched an impressive 2-2 win-loss record throughout the 44-team, 11-nation tournament.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation Invitational champions secured a spot in the round of 16 after a decisive opening win against Malaysia’s Ee Ling Pua and Rachael Go, 21-8, 21-18, on April 2.

The next match was controversial as an officiating call in the second set shifted the momentum in favor of China.

The pair ultimately yielded against the six-foot Chinese duo of Yu Tong and Jiang Kaiyue, 14-21, 15-21, on Thursday, April 3.

The UAAP Season 87 beach volleyball silver medalists got their revenge by beating another Chinese pair, Yan Xu and Zhou Mingli, 22-20, 22-20, in the round-of-16 fixture on Friday, April 4.

China mounted a comeback to level the opening frame at 20-all, but Progella responded with two consecutive points, including a pivotal service ace, 22-20.

Pagara and Progella erased a four-point margin in the deciding frame, while Progella finished it with a clutch attack to move forward to the quarterfinals.

Pagara and Progella reached the end of the line as they succumbed to Australia’s Georgia Johnson and Elizabeth Alchin, 18-21, 19-21, in the quarterfinal matchup.

Both pairs started off hot trading attacking sequences to open the quarterfinals, however, the no. 2 seed Aussies broke away from a 17-all knot with a 5-1 run, capped off by a service ace from Alchin, 18-21.

The Filipina contingents built an early five-point deficit to begin the second set, 8-3.

Despite the manageable margin, Johnson and Alchin carved out a six-point swing to seize the lead midway, 16-18.

The home team could not regain control as Alchin delivered the dagger, 19-21.

The 20-year-old Pagara and 19-year-old Progella emerged as the only Filipino tandem to advance in the AVC quarterfinals among eight Alas pairs.