UST’s Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella celebrates a point during their gold medal match versus NU’s Honey Grace Cordero and Kizil Doren Quijote. BVR photo
UST’s Pagara, Progella shine
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas’ Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella ended the year on a high note following a 21-19, 21-19 conquest of National University’s Honey Grace Cordero and Kizil Doren Quijote Sunday to rule the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Beach Volleyball Invitational organized by Beach Volleyball Republic at Nuvali Sand Courts in City of Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Pagara and Progella showed resiliency in both sets to prevail over newly-minted UAAP Season 87 MVP Cordero and Quijote, who was the Lady Bulldogs’ third player during their recent UAAP title run at the expense of the Tiger Sands last month.
Two weeks after losing to UAAP crown to NU’s Cordero and Kat Epa, UST’s Pagara and Progella were determined to make it up by dominating the two-day tournament.
Pagara and Progella made quick work Grithney Dadang and Angelica del Mar, 21-10, 21-10, in an all-Tiger Sands semifinal. Dadang was UST’s third player in the recent UAAP season.
Team Negrense’s Bea Tan and Alexa Polidario captured the bronze medal with a 21-17, 21-8 romp of the Tiger Sands’ second team of Dadang and Del Mar.
Pagara and Progella are Alas Pilipinas mainstays who played in several international tournaments in Nuvali this year. The duo’s biggest feat was beating New Zealand’s Shaunna Polley and Olivia MacDonald in the Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships pool play also last month.
Air Force’s Ranran Abdilla and James Buytrago topped the men’s division, besting NU’s Sky Gemarino and Wayne Dionela, 21-19, 21-13, in the final.
Abdilla and Buytrago, who are also members of Alas Pilipinas squad, emerged triumphant over Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Paul Justine Say and John Ruther Abor, 21-11, 21-10, in the semifinal.
Say and Abor complete the podium finishers in the men’s division.
