By ADRIAN STEWART CO

National University (NU) tightened its grip on the women’s beach volleyball landscape as reigning MVP Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa stamped their class anew on Day 3 of the UAAP Season 88 tournament, securing a Final 4 berth with another pair of commanding wins at Sands SM By The Bay on Sunday, November 23.

Cordero and Epa, the tandem that delivered NU’s championship last season, wasted no time asserting their title-retention bid by dispatching Ateneo University’s Gry Matibag and Liz Lomocso, 21-11, 21-12.

Negrense Cordero later returned to the sand alongside Kizil Quijote and once again proved unstoppable, rolling past De La Salle University’s Ela Raagas and Sophia Sindayen, 21-9, 21-14, as the Lady Bulldogs improved to a spotless 5-0.

While NU maintained firm control, University of Santo Tomas kept pace as Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella likewise clinched a semifinals seat after sweeping both of their assignments.

The senior duo first dominated La Salle’s Mica Buis and Raagas, 21-11, 21-4, before overwhelming University of the East’s (UE) Krisha Revilla and third player Smile Iquio, 21-15, 21-3, to match NU’s perfect run.

University of the Philippines (UP) stayed within striking distance of a Final 4 return as Jum Gayo and Kryssia Ornos pulled off a gritty 23-21, 12-21, 16-14 victory over Adamson’s Shai Nitura and Fhei Sagaysay, lifting UP to 3-1.

Far Eastern University’s Melody Pons and Lovely Lopez later scored a 21-10, 21-10 victory over UE’s Van Bangayan and Revilla to seize a share of fourth place at 2-2 alongside Ateneo.

Adamson dropped to 1-3, while La Salle and UE fell out of contention at 0-5./ASC, WDJ