The sand courts of the University of the East (UE)-Caloocan proved once more to be hostile to the Green Spikers, as they finished fifth at the end of the elimination rounds of the Men’s Beach Volleyball division of the UAAP Season 73.
The duo of Mark Lee and Men’s Volleyball Rookie of the Year Myco Antonio, and reserve Kevin Dela Vega have piled up a record of two wins and five losses, paving the way for their elimination and their fifth-place finish this season, which is still a marked improvement from their dismal sixth place finish last Season 72.
Back-to-back losses
Adamson University’s trio of John Hendrix Competente, April Pagtalunan, and reserve Gilbert Longavela defeated the Green-and-White squad, 21-17, 21-10, Sept. 5 at the UE-Caloocan sand courts to keep the Spikers from notching their elusive third victory, and instead handed them their fourth loss of the season.
The Taft-based Spikers kept things close during the first set, but their miscues unraveled during the second as the Falcons, who placed fourth last season, claimed another victory, which is their third of the season.
During their outing against the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Spikers, the defending champions in both the Beach Volleyball and Indoor Volleyball divisions, the Green Spikers tried their best to keep in the frenetic pace of John Paul Torres and Henry James Pecaña, but the battle-tested Tigers proved to be too much for DLSU, winning 21-16, 21-17, Sept. 4 at the UE-Caloocan sand courts.
Promising start
Their arch-rivals maybe big shots in the basketball court, but in the sand courts of UE-Caloocan, the Green Spikers showed the Ateneo Blue Spikers that they are superior in beach volleyball, lording it over the Katipunan-based Squad, 21-16, 22-20, Sept. 1.
DLSU coasted to a relatively easy victory during the first set before seeing a spirited second set from Ateneo’s Neil Patrick Flores and John Paul Pareja, who are still in search of their first victory after three starts.
The Taft-based squad, meanwhile, earned their second victory in three outings to boost their bid of improving their sixth place finish last season.
Third-ranked University of the Philippines (UP) gave the Green Spikers their first loss of the season while improving their own win-loss record via a 21-19, 21-10 beating of the Taft-based squad.
During their first match of Season 73, DLSU withstood a surprising challenge from the rookie-laden squad of NU, as they bucked a slow start during the first set and salvaged the final two sets including the all-important third to claim the victory, 21-23, 21-19, 16-14, and sent the Bulldogs, who finished dead-last in Season 72, to their first loss of the season during the Opening of the Beach Volleyball hostilities, Aug. 28 at the UE-Caloocan sand courts.
