For the second straight year, both the UST Golden Tigresses and Tiger Spikers reigned supreme in the beach volleyball world as both squads won championships in their respective divisions in the UAAP Season 82 Beach Volleyball Tournament at the SM Sands by the Bay in Pasay Sunday, October 6. 

The Golden Tigresses squad led by eventual MVP Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor clinched the fourth straight title for the Tigresses as they beat the LaSallian duo of Tin Tiamzon and Justine Nazareno.

The Tigresses won the first match in three sets, 21-14, 20-22, 15-22 and swept the second and final match 28-26,  21-18.

For the Tiger Spikers, Jaron Requinton and Rancel Varga beat out FEU’s Doy Barrica and Jude Garcia to claim back-to-back titles for the men’s squad.  

Requinton and Varga had a dominant showing in the opening match as they swept the Season 81 runner-ups 21-11, 21-11 and had a strong showing as they sealed the win in the closer, 21-15, 21-19.

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The UST Golden Tigresses completed a comeback attempt with a five-set win over the Ateneo Lady Eagles, 20-25, 25-20, 25-16, 19-25, 16-14, in the do-or-die game of the PVL Collegiate Conference Season 3 semifinals series at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan, Sunday, October 5.

The sudden death semis decider was a tug of war from the start until the end as both teams started strong in the first two sets and had a see-saw battle in the third and fourth sets before UST ultimately pulled away in the fifth set. 

The first set started out as a back and forth affair but eventually Ateneo drew first blood with attacks from Erika Raagas, Jules Samonte and Vanie Gandler while causing the Tigresses to give up 10 errors as they won the first set, 20-25.

UST became more balanced with the setting of Maji Mangulabnan as the Tigresses equalized the game in the second set and forced Ateneo to 10 errors. 

The Tigresses then carried the momentum to third set and overpowered Ateneo with 15 attacks as compared to the Lady Eagles’ six. Individual efforts from Eya Laure, Janna Torres, Imee Hernandez, and KC Galdones helped the Tigresses to easily win the set, 25-16. 

Ateneo then bounced back in the fourth set as Faith Nisperos went on fire to carry the Lady Eagles to force a fifth and final set.

Both teams started the final set on a strong note, exchanging counter runs until Faith Nisperos scored the equalized to bring it to 14-all, but the Tigresses scored two straight points to finally ice the game at 16-14.

UST was led by Eya Laure who poured in 21 points while her older sister EJ showed her defensive prowess with 13 digs. Game two hero Imee Hernandez also had 14 markers of her own. 

On the other hand, rookie Faith Nisperos tallied 23 points, while Erika Ragas had 10 points to lead the Lady Eagles.

UST will face the winner between CSB Lady Blazers and Adamson Lady Falcons at the finals. Game 1 will be on Wednesday, October 9 at the same venue.

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The UST Golden Tigresses made quick work of the National University Lady Bulldogs, 27-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-16 in the second round of the UAAP 81 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan Saturday.

Both teams opened the game with good starts and failed to get the upper hand at each other up until the final moments of the first set before the Tigresses closed it out at 27-25.

The second and third sets were like opposites in terms of energy for both teams. UST slugged it out and nipped NU on the second set with roaring offense and floor defense, finishing the set 25-17.  The third set saw UST relax and lose their ground as NU takes the set 20-25

The fourth and final set saw UST’s momentum return and once again claim 10 points. The Tigresses leaned on their one-two punch of Rondina and Laure as they ice the game 25-16.

After the game, Coach Kung Fu Reyes stated that despite the third set collapse, it was important that his team got the win and at this point they will just be polishing their overall game.

“At the end of the game kami naman yung nanalo so kailangan lang namin ulit i polish yung mga dapat namin na i correct pa. Yun ang kailangan ulit gawin pag balik namin sa ensayo namin.”

Sisi Rondina poured in a game high 21 points to go along with Player of the Game honors, while Eya Laure chipped in her own 13 points.

For the Lady Bulldogs, Ivy Lacsina led the team with 19 markers of her own and rookie Princess Robles had 14 points.

With the win, UST now improves to 10-4 and has a shot for at least a playoff for the number 2 spot if La Salle loses to FEU in their final eliminations encounter on Sunday.

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