Not even a former MVP could stop a couple of super rookies from

ascending to the top. University of Santo Tomas bucked a slow start

before making mincemeat of more experienced De La Salle Univeristy, 21-
15, 21-11, to take the 77th UAAP womens beach volleyball tournament
championship Sunday at the UE Caloocan sand court.

Before an animated crowd cheering under the scorching sun, the Tigresses
comprised of Cebuana freshmen Cherry Rondina and Rica Rivera
endured a rugged first few minutes, but once they settled in, the Lady
Spikers stood no chance at all.

Na-pressure lang kami siguro, admitted Rondina, who was named
tournament MVP. Nadala lang kami siguro sa cheering ng mga tao.

An attacking error by Rondina gave the La Salle tandem of Kim Fajardo
and Cyd Demecillo a 10-4 lead in the opening set.

But the Espana spikers went on a searing 13-1 blast behind their attacks
and several errors by the Lady Spikers to snatch the lead for good at 17-
11 and never look back.

Trying to stymie USTs momentum, La Salle sent in Ara Galang to replace
Demecillo, but the Season 75 indoor MVP clearly struggled and did more
harm than good as the Tigresses simply coasted in the clinching set.

An ace by Rivera pushed the lead to 19-10 before an error by Fajardo
gave it an anticlimactic ending at 21-11.

Hindi ako makapaniwala kasi mga beterano kasi ang mga kinalaban
namin, said Rondina. Ang sa amin, maglaro kung anong itinuro sa amin
ni coach.

In the mens side, National University came back from a set down to
turn back UST, 19-21, 21-18, 17-15, in their winner-take-all Game 3 tussle.


The Bulldogs completed a three-peat and their dreaded duo of Josephenry
Tipay and Edwin Tolentino ends their UAAP beach volleyball career with a
bang.

Great exit, napakaganda ng team chemistry namin, Tipay, who was
named MVP, said. Hindi naging madali para sa amin, pero nandoon ang
puso namin. Hindi kami nagpabaya.

MANILA, Philippines University of Santo Tomas overcame its biggest test
in the UAAP Season 77 beach volleyball tournament as the Tigresses'
Cherry Rondina and Rica Rivera nipped Adamson University's Amanda
Villanueva and Marleen Cortel, 21-13, 17-21, 16-14, to punch the outright
Finals berth Sunday at the UE Caloocan sand court.
The defending champion Lady Falcons were on the cusp of forcing a Final
Four after reaching the matchpoint, 14-13, when Rondina took charge.
With her timely well-placed shots at the net, the 17-year old Rondina
delivered as UST scored the last three points of the match to clinch the
match.
By sweeping the seven-game eliminations, the Tigresses marched to the
title round for the fourth straight season armed with the thrice-to-beat
incentive.
"Kahit bumaba ang laro namin, naniwala pa rin kami sa isa't isa dahil alam
namin kaya namin ang kalaban," said Rondina, a product Compostela
National High School in Cebu. "Binantayan namin sa Adamson yung long
ball at yung baon nila sa bola."

Cherry Rondina is awarded as the tournament MVP and Rica Rivera is the
rookie of the year.