By Dugout Philippines
Cherry Rondina saved the day for her and UST teammate Rica Rivera as they needed three sets before trouncing Adamson's Marleen Cortel and Amanda Villanueva, 21-13, 17-21, 16-14, to complete a 7-0 sweep of the elimination round of the UAAP Women's Beach Volleyball tournament at the UE Caloocan sand courts.
Cherry Rondina saved the day for her and UST teammate Rica Rivera as they needed three sets before trouncing Adamson's Marleen Cortel and Amanda Villanueva, 21-13, 17-21, 16-14, to complete a 7-0 sweep of the elimination round of the UAAP Women's Beach Volleyball tournament at the UE Caloocan sand courts.
Rondina scored three straight points to steal the final set after the Lady Falcons came to within a point of forcing the Final Four playoff format.
"Kahit bumaba ang laro namin, naniwala pa rin kami sa isa't isa dahil alam namin kaya namin ang kalaban. Binantayan namin sa Adamson yung long ball at yung baon nila sa bola," the Cebuano standout said after the game.
With the win, the UST Tigresses got an outright seat to the Finals with a thrice-to-beat advantage while forcing a stepladder playoff format.
Their male counterparts, however, failed to duplicate the feat as Mark Alfafara and Roy Guzman fell to NU's Edwin Tolentino and Josephnry Tipay, 21-18, 21-17.
The win, coupled by Adamson's 21-14, 21-19 win against UP, forced a three-way tie for first place between the Bulldogs, the Growling Tigers, and the Soaring Falcons.
UST, however, still remained at number one due to the quotient system. The Tigers will have a twice-to-beat advantage against the FEU Tamaraws in the Final Four.
The Tamaraws clinched the last playoff seat after dismantling Ateneo, 21-15, 21-11.
Back in the women's side, La Salle sealed the twice-to-beat advantage in the second round of the stepladder semifinals after tripping Ateneo, 21-14, 21-13.
The team of Kim Fajardo and Cyd Demecillo will await the winner of the stepladder playoffs round one tie between FEU and Adamson.
The Lady Tamaraw pair of Bernadette Pons and Charm Simborio sealed the third playoff seat after downing UP, 21-17, 21-15.
On the other hand, Cortel and Villanueva beat NU's Jaja Santiago and Fatima General, 21-12, 21-18, in the fourth place playoff match.
FEU, Adamson, and NU were actually tied for third at 4-3, but the quotient system favored FEU, setting Adamson and NU, who earlier won against UE, to a match for the last semifinal berth.