NU nips UST for back-to-back UAAP men’s beach volley title

MANILA, Philippines – National University caught University of Santo Tomas (UST) in its worst form to hammer out a 21-16, 21-17 win and cop its second straight men's beach volleyball crown in UAAP Season 76  at the UE Caloocan sand court Thursday.

Edwin Tolentino and Josephenry Tipay needed only 34 minutes to wrap up the crown.

The Growling Tigers, who climbed to second after a miserable last-place finish in Season 75, groped for form as Mark Gil Alfafara and Kris Roy Guzman could not get their rhythm going.

Tolentino took the MVP honors, while Guzman was named Rookie of the Year.

NU went perfect in the elimination round to gain an outright entry to the Finals but bowed to UST, 15-21, 17-21 in the opener last week.  The Bulldogs bounced back in Game 2 with a 21-10, 18-21, 15-11 victory over the Tigers. The match was supposed to be played last Monday morning but was called off due to inclement weather.

NU became the third team in the league to win two men's beach volley championships after Far Eastern University and UST.