S87 High School Beach Volleyball: NU annexes breakthrough girls' title, UST takes first boys' crown

NATIONAL University Nazareth School annexed its first-ever UAAP high school beach volleyball crown as Vilmarie Toos and Faith Mangyao downed University of Santo Tomas' Cheng Dadang and Angelica Del Mar, 18-21, 21-10, 15-8, Sunday at Sands SM By The Bay.

The Tiger Sands were poised for a three-peat after winning the opener but the Lady Bullpups pulled off a reverse sweep after dominating the next two to complete a seven-match sweep of the season.

Season MVP Toos and Mangyao duplicated the feat of NU's women's team, which also won its first UAAP championship at the expense of UST in a three-set thriller last November.

‎"Masaya po kasi marami kaming struggles for the past year. For example po, hindi kami umuwi for Christmas at New Year para mag-train, 'yun po 'yung naging drive namin para mag-champion," said Toos.

The Lady Bullpups also defeated the Tiger Sands in the eliminations.

UST took its first boys' title as JM Lagaran and Lance Malinao outlasted NUNS' Wayne Dionela and Kian Tan, 21-14, 13-21, 16-14, to finish unbeaten in nine matches.

Tournament MVP Lagaran and Malinao showed no quit as the Tiger Sands rallied from an 8-12 hole in the deciding third set to frustrate the Bullpups bid for a second straight crown.

"Masaya po kasi para rin po to sa coaches namin, sa mga ate at kuya namin na tumulong sa 'min sa training, na finally may binigay na kami sa kanila. Para na rin to sa school tong panalo namin na pinaghirapan namin talaga," said Lagaran.

Adamson claimed its second straight bronze medal as Ella Gonzalvo and Meagan Pineda swept Far Eastern University-Diliman's Sheena Cafe and Aleah Devosora, 21-17, 21-12.

With the Baby Falcons leading 11-5 in the second set, Devosora replaced Sheila Pascual but the Baby Tamaraws fell short of achieving a podium finish.

FEU-D bagged third place in the boys' side as Zedrick

Calimlim and Tyler Ramos outlasted Adamson's Brice Malinao and Gian Ygot, 22-20, 19-21, 15-13. The Baby Tamaraws avenged their reverse sweep loss to the Baby Falcons in the eliminations.

In the girls semifinals, NUNS' Toos and Mangyao dominated Adamson's Gonzalvo and Pineda, 21-9, 21-15, while UST's Dadang and Del Mar needed three sets to prevail over FEU-D's Cafe and Pascual, 21-17, 16-21, 15-6.

"Noong nag-start feeling namin kaya namin yung sweep. Pero nung nag-start na 'yung (final) game, parang OMG, baka hindi namin kayanin. Pero nag-strive lang kami, nag-pray lang kami, para makamit namin to. Masarap pala sa feeling na makamit mo 'yung pinaghirapan mo," expressed Toos.

UST's Lagaran and Malinao bested FEU-D's Calimlim and Sam Coronel, 21-7, 21-12, to arrange a boys title duel with NUNS' Dionela and Tan, a 21-12, 21-16 winner over Adamson's Malinao and Ygot in the other semifinal.

"Ingatan po sana ng mga susunod sa 'min and enjoy lang dapat 'pag beach volleyball," stressed Lagaran.

Gonzalvo was the Rookie of the Year, duplicating her feat indoors.

De La Salle-Zobel's Luis Papa was the top rookie in the boys' side.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team