THE UST TIGER SANDS made history after completing the UAAP’s first-ever volleyball grand slam, sweeping all beach volleyball titles across both the seniors’ and juniors’ divisions.
The UST Junior Tiger Sands capped the historic feat by delivering a golden double in the high school division, following the seniors’ title sweep in November.
Cheng Dadang and Angelica Del Mar reclaimed the girls’ beach volleyball crown after outlasting the Adamson Lady Baby Falcons duo of Maegan Pineda and Ella Gonzalvo, 24-22, 12-21, 15-13, on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the SM Sands by the Bay.
The pair dominated the tournament with a spotless 9-0 record, dropping only two sets—both against Adamson.
With the championship on the line in the deciding third set, Dadang and Del Mar unleashed a crucial 3-0 burst to reach championship point, only for Adamson to trim the gap to 14-13.
Dadang then delivered the decisive long attack to seal the victory, 15-13, and secure UST’s third championship in four years, dethroning NU, which settled for the bronze medal.
Completing the juniors’ golden double, UST’s boys’ team led by rookies Mark Bihag, James Apdian, and Karla Escobal captured back-to-back titles after dispatching the NUNS Bullpups tandem of Kian Tan and Ethan Jadraque, 22-20, 21-18.
Despite absorbing a loss to the Bullpups in the elimination round, third man Escobal rose to the occasion, denying NUNS at the net in the extended opening set before delivering the championship-clinching point.
Months earlier, Alche Gupiteo and Dom Gabito powered UST to its seventh consecutive men’s beach volleyball crown in the UAAP Season 88 tournament on Nov. 30, marking the longest championship streak since the sport’s introduction in Season 69.
Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella then completed the seniors’ golden double in the women’s division as the Alas Pilipinas tandem swept the NU Lady Bulldogs, 21-8, 22-20.
The historic sweep marked the first time in UAAP history across both indoor and beach volleyball that a single school swept all divisions titles. F
