By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Honey Grace Cordero led the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs back to the podium, steering them to a bronze-medal finish in the 1st Mayor Raisa S. Treñas International Women’s Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Joe III Garden in Iloilo City on Sunday, August 24.

Cordero and partner Kathrina Epa displayed resilience, bouncing back from a first-set loss to outlast Japan-B’s Ibuki Matsuzaki and Momone Aoki, 16-21, 21-13, 15-10, in the battle for third place.

The bronze medal performance added to Cordero and Epa’s growing reputation as one of the country’s top beach volleyball pairs, coming off their UAAP Season 87 title run where they denied the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Sands a repeat championship.

However, UST reclaimed its winning form in Iloilo as Tiger Sands duo Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara captured the gold medal with a gritty 21-19, 19-21, 15-10 victory over Japan-A’s Kokoro Taniguchi and Yuna Maki.

Progella, who was named tournament Most Valuable Player, said the Iloilo stint was a key part of UST’s drive to regain their UAAP crown in Season 88.

“We are using this tournament as part of our UAAP preparations. Gustong-gusto naman na mabawi ang korona, especially kami ang host this season,” Progella said.

The Iloilo-hosted competition was historic, marking the first time a foreign team competed in the city.

The Japanese contingent, bannered by Taniguchi, Maki, Matsuzaki, and Aoki, split into two squads for the tournament.

“This is a historic sports event involving a foreign team,” Gametime Sports founder Rodolfo Go “Ka Ruding” Villaruz said.

“We are thankful to the Iloilo City LGU, through the Office of Sports and Youth Development, for partnering with us,” he added./ASC, WDJ