Bullpups, Jr Tigresses seal twice-to-beat

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning girls titlist National University and University of Santo Tomas secured the twice-to-beat slots in the Final Four after posting straight-set victories Wednesday in the UAAP high school volleyball tournament at the Adamson U gym.

The Bullpups tripped University of the East, 25-15, 25-22, 25-14, while the Junior Tigresses beat La Salle-Zobel, 25-18, 25-16, 25-15.

Posting its 10th win in 11 matches, NU virtually clinched the No. 1 ranking in the semifinals, while UST is at second with a 9-2 record.

The Junior Lady Spikers remained at third spot with a 7-4 card and will face the Junior Tigresses in the Final Four slated next week.

The Junior Warriors, meanwhile, fell to 5-6 at fourth place. UE needs to beat La Salle-Zobel on the final day of eliminations at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow to clinch the remaining semis berth.

In the other girls match, Adamson whipped UP Integrated School, 25-17, 25-10, 25-15, to tie Far Eastern U-Diliman at 4-7 and keep alive its slim hopes of making it to the Final Four via the backdoor.

In the boys division, the Bullpups moved on the cusp of advancing to the Finals outright with a narrow 26-28, 25-6, 18-25, 25-21, 15-12 victory over UST.

Unbeaten in 11 matches, NU needs to prevail over the Junior Archers tomorrow at 8 a.m.  to secure the first championship slot with a thrice-to-beat advantage.

The defending champion Junior Warriors outlasted the Baby Tamaraws, 18-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-20, 15-13, to claim the twice-to-beat semis incentive with their ninth win in 11 matches.

FEU-Diliman dropped to 8-3 card in third place.

The Blue Eaglets are still tied with the Tiger Cubs in fourth spot at 5-6 after a 25-13, 25-16, 25-23 victory.  Ateneo and UST will clash in a playoff for the last semis berth if it beats UE and FEU-Diliman, respectively, tomorrow.