THE La Salle pair of Cebuana Cyd Demecillo and Kim Fajardo are just a breath away from making it back to the finals of the 78th UAAP women’s beach volleyball tournament after they bested Ateneo’s Bea Tan and Alyssa Valdez, 21-16, 21-19, in the playoff for the second twice-to-beat semifinals yesterday at the Sands SM By The Bay.
The win capped what was a great day for the Lady Spikers who, behind the stellar play of Demecillo, a former stalwart of the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation, ousted the University of Santo Tomas’ Cebuana pair of Rica Rivera and Cherry Rondina, 19-21, 22-20, 16-14, earlier.
Far Eastern University’s Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza finished the elimination round in first place after dispatching Adamson University’s Mylene Paat and Jessica Galanza, 21-9, 21-14.
The Lady Tamaraws tallied at 6-1 (win-loss) record, while the Lady Eagles, Lady Spikers and the Lady Falcons tied from second to fourth with identical 5-2 slates.
Adamson dropped to No. 4 seed due to inferior quotient and was eventually eliminated by twice-to-beat FEU in the Final Four, 21-13, 21-19. The Lady Tamaraws advance to the Finals where they await the winner of the La Salle-Ateneo semis duel.
The Lady Eagles earlier dismantled University of the East, 21-6, 21-7, which shut the door for the Tigresses (4-3) to make it to the Final Four via the backdoor.