By Lily O. Ramos
MANILA, (PNA)–National University (NU) booked its second straight UAAP men’s beach volleyball title by hammering University of Santo Tomas (UST) 21-16, 21-17 at the UE Caloocan sand court Thursday for its second straight men’s beach volleyball crown in UAAP Season 76.
The pair of Edwin Tolentino and Josephenry Tipay needed only 34 minutes to wrap up the crown of Season 76 with Tolentino taking the MVP honors while Kris Roy Guzman being named Rookie of the Year.
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.
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.