By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Honey Grace Cordero and Vilmarie Toos of the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs defeated Alas 1’s Sunnie Villapando and Gen Eslapor, 21-13, 21-23, 15-11, to rule the women’s division of the Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) Nuvali Open at Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Villapando and Eslapor, members of last year’s Thailand Southeast Asian Games gold medal team who are paired for the first time, pushed Toos and Cordero to a third set by atoning two attack errors, with Villapando drilling the kill to extend the match.

But Toos and Cordero, who were part of the Lady Bulldogs squad who won the UAAP title last season, took command by racing to 8-3 and 13-8 leads.

Toos delivered the championship sealing kill.

The NU duo, who also defeated the Alas pair on opening day, logged a perfect 6-0 card.

Alas 2’s Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara, the UAAP women’s beach volleyball queens from University of Santo Tomas (UST), overwhelmed Negrense Fille Cayetano and Kizil Quijote, 21-7, 21-11, to secure third place.

Alas 1’s Ronniel Rosales and Ranran Abdilla completed a perfect campaign after besting Amigo’s Wayne Dionela and Rancel Varga, 21-13, 21-19.

They also went undefeated in six matches.

Emilio Aguinaldo College’s reigning NCAA kings Jan Abor and Frelwin Taculong completed the podium finishers in the men’s side after turning back UST 2’s JM Lagaran and Lance Malinao, 21-19, 26-24.

UST’s Cheng Dadang and Eliza Israel became the first-ever BVR U-18 girls champions after tripping Academy Our Lady of Guam’s Landen DeVera and Carmen Eugenia, 21-10, 21-14.

The U-18 girls bronze medal went to Guam’s Lea Aromin and Jaedyn Punongbayan, who repulsed UST 2’s Nic Delicana and Karlyn Progella, 22-20, 21-15./ASC, WDJ