The men spikers of Southwestern University (SWU) took a step closer to regaining the lost glory of their once-dominant beach volleyball program as they edged out the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in a three-set thriller in the national finals of the Nestea Beach Volley yesterday in Boracay Island.
Reigning Cebu Schools Athletics Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) MVP Dave Cabaron and Rommel Pepito bucked a close first-set loss and showed what they were made of in the ensuing sets to emerge victorious, 18-21, 22-20, 15-9, over UST.
With the victory, SWU, which scored victories over Negros Oriental State University, 21-11, 21-18, and De La Salle College of St. Benilde, 21-8, 21-11, is now assured of a semifinals berth as it finished the elimination round with a 3-0 (win-loss) slate.
The victory somehow made up for the sorry exit of two-time defending champions University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and the defeat of the SWU Lady Cobras.
Bannered by Jhon Tormis and Jason Reyes, the Panthers failed to sustain their momentum and faltered to Colegio San Agustin, 16-21, 19-21.
The Lady Cobras, on the other hand, succumbed to the University of Mindanao-Tagum (UMT), 19-21, 19-21.
But the pair of Floremel Rodriguez and Therese Ramas still has a chance of making the semifinals if they sweep their remaining assignments.
Meanwhile, reigning women’s champions UST led by Cebuana Cherry Rondina and Jem Gutierrez had no trouble blasting into the Final Four as they routed San Beda, 21-7, 21-13.