SUBIC — Colegio de San Juan de Letran, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, and Emilio Aguinaldo College emerged victorious in the NCAA Season 99 beach volleyball tournament on Sunday at the Sand Courts of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Letran completed a sweep of the women's division as it took down rival San Beda University in the women's division finals, 21-16, 21-16.
Lara Mae Silva and Gia Maquilang, along with Jogi Maquilang, did not drop a single set en route to the title. Gia won all the individual awards, bagging the Freshman of the Year and Rookie-MVP plums.
Before the finals, the Intramuros-based squad eked out a 22-20, 21-13 win against Emilio Aguinaldo College in the Final Four match. San Beda, meanwhile, beat Perpetual, 21-18, 21-18.
EAC finished third after beating Perpetual, 21-16, 16-21, 15-10, in the battle for bronze.
Meanwhile, Perpetual reclaimed the men's title after defeating Mapua University in the finals, 21-19, 21-13.
The duo of Louie Ramirez and Jefferson Marapoc, with Klint Mateo, struggled early in the match before eventually finding their groove en route to their second straight title.
Perpetual finished with a 7-2 card at the end of the elimination round along with Mapua and Arellano University.
Prior to the finals, Perpetual bested Arellano, 21-12, 21-15, in the Final Four, while Mapua defeated Jose Rizal University, 21-18, 19-21, 15-13. Perpetual and Mapua both had the twice-to-beat bonus.
JRU clinched the bronze medal as it swept Arellano in the battle for third, 21-11, 21-9.
Ramirez was named as Most Valuable Player while De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's James Harold Marasigan was Rookie of the Year.
Earlier, EAC reclaimed the juniors title after taking down Lyceum of the Philippines University in the finals, 21-17, 16-21, 15-10.
The Brigadiers, composed of Dwayne Alin-Alin, Aljihan Apdian, and Nyle Ecaranum, ended the elimination round with a 6-2 card, along with LPU, Letran, and Perpetual. EAC, despite the Final Four bonus, needed two games before booking a finals slot.
EAC fell to Perpetual in the first Final Four match, 21-16, 12-21, 8-15, before winning the do-or-die match, 21-17, 21-18.
Alijhan Apdian was named as the Rookie of the Year and MVP.
Letran claimed the bronze medal with a win against Perpetual, 21-19, 21-10.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
