UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas opened its title retention bid in style by posting two straight wins in the UAAP women’s beach volleyball tournament Saturday at the UE Caloocan sand court.
Reigning MVP Judy Caballejo and Maru Banaticla of the Tigresses needed three sets to survive Adamson’s Pau Soriano and Sheila Pineda, 19-21, 21-16, 15-13, and returned in the afternoon session with an easy 21-13, 21-13 win over Loryvel Faytaren and Sam Dawson of Far Eastern U.
La Salle, behind the duo of Wensh Tiu and Kim Fajardo, stunned Ateneo’s much-heralded pair of Fille Cainglet and Bea Tan, 21-18, 21-13.
The Lady Eagles, who placed second last season, bounced back later in the day with a 21-17, 21-14 victory over Jessica Paron and Francislyn Cais of University of the East for a 1-1 record.
In other women’s matches, University of the Philippines, behind Aia del Mundo and Pau Genido defeated the Lady Tamaraws, 22-20, 21-18, while National University’s Dindin Santiago and Jen Reyes smashed the Lady Warriors, 21-9, 21-7.
UE and FEU dropped at the bottom of the standings with a 0-2 card.
The Tamaraws started their bid for a three-peat in the men’s division with last season’s MVP Arvin Avila and Karl dela Calzada disposing of Adamson’s John Hendrix Competente and Gilbert Longavela, 21-15, 21-18.
UST’s Jay Depante and Mark Pangan defeated UP’s Jomari Badiong and Mico Lucindo, 17-21, 21-15, 15-11, while La Salle’s Red Christensen and Kevin Dela Vega nosed out NU’s Josephenry Tipay and Edwin Tolentino, 15-21, 22-20, 16-14.
UE nipped Ateneo, 15-21, 22-20, 15-9, in the other men’s match.