Perpetual’s Relan and Rey Taneo. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Lyceum’s Jhonel Badua and Joeward Presnede pulled off a pair of three-set wins while Perpetual’s Relan and Rey Taneo hacked out a straight set victory to remain undefeated in the NCAA Season 92 men’s beach volley tournament at the beachfront of Subic Park Hotel Friday.
Badua and Presnede survived Arellano’s Kenneth Aliyacyac and Joshua Esguerra, 17-21, 21-18 at 15-12, and Mapua’s Rey Arth Andaya and Sam Damian, 21-13, 17-21 at 15-12, to help the Pirates nail their seventh win in row.
The Taneo siblings, meanwhile, flattened San Sebastian’s Christian Calonia and Jahir Ebrahim, 21-14, 21-17, to stay just half a game behind Badua and Presnede with a pristine 6-0 record.
Lyceum and Perpetual Help part ways Saturday with the winner going straight to the finals where it will be assured of twice-to-beat advantage.
“The boys have trained hard with an intention of winning it this year,” said Lyceum coach Emil Lontoc in Filipino.
In the women’s action, San Beda twins Maria Jeziela and Maria Nieza Viray dumped Lyceum’s Czarina Pauline Orros and Cherilyn Jhane Sindayen, 21-19, 21-13, to seize the solo lead with a perfect 6-0 slate.
San Sebastian’s Grethcel Soltones and Alyssa Eroa, who are gunning for their fourth straight crown, turned back Perpetual Help’s Marjito Medalla and Maria Aurora Bianca Tripoli, 21-19, 21-18, to seal their fifth straight win to move half a game behind the the talented Viray duo.
The Virays and the Soltones-Eroa tandem will face off Saturday for the right to advance to the finals outright where the sweeper clinches the twice-to-beat edge.
The Red Spikers are gunning for their first ever title in the sport while the Lady Altas their fifth crown.