Defending women’s champion De La Salle, behind the tandem of Desiree Cheng and Tin Tiamzon, overcame a first set loss to beat Far Eastern’s Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza, 19-21, 21-15, 15-11, in yesterday’s UAAP Season 79 beach volleyball opener at the Sands SM By The Bay.
It was the rematch of last season’s championship where the Lady Spikers, with the duo of MVP Kim Fajardo and Cyd Demecillo, beat the Lady Tamaraws for their first title in the sand court.
Proving this early that they are up to the challenge, Cheng and Tiamzon delivered the key hits late in the third set to help La Salle notch its first win.
Also making an early statement is former champions University of Santo Tomas, as the pair of Cherry Rondina and Jem Gutierrez beat Ateneo’s Michelle Morente and Kim Gequillana, 21-10, 21-15.
University of the Philippines’ Diana Carlos and Arielle Estrañero beat Adamson University’s Jema Galanza and Bernadette Flora, 21-18, 21-16, while National University’s Roma Doromal and Aiko Urdas outlasted University of the East’s Judith Abil and Angelica Dacaymat, 17-21, 21-9, 15-9.
In the men’s division, the Growling Tigers got some sort of revenge from their last year’s Finals loss by besting the Green Archers in the season opener.