SSC nips St. Benilde, shares NCAA beach volley lead

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning titlist San Sebastian’s Margarita Pepito and Russel Jalbuna edged St. Benilde’s Giza Yumang and LC Quemada, 21-18, 13-21, 17-15, yesterday to seize a share of the lead in Season 85 of the NCAA beach volleyball tournament at the Cantada Sports Center in Taguig.

The Mendiola-based spikers notched their sixth win in seven outings to force a three-way tie with the Lady Blazers and the Perpetual Help Lady Altas at the helm in the meet supported by Mikasa, Gatorade, Speedo and Cheers.

San Sebastian is actually shooting to grab its third straight crown in the discipline organized by a league committee chaired by Paul Supan of Jose Rizal.

Yumang and Quemada hurdled their first assignment of the day over Perpetual Help’s April Ann Sartin and Keshia de Luna in another heart-stopping three-setter, 21-23, 26-24, 17-15, sending the latter to their first loss this year.

Pepito and Jalbuna, for their part, smashed Letran’s Kriszelle Moralejo and Gena Andaya, 24-22, 21-16, earlier before pulling the rug from under the Lady Blazers.

Meanwhile, Arellano U’s Sheena Teves and Cherry Ferrer, whose school was elevated from guest team this year to probationary member in Season 86 like Emilio Aguinaldo clobbered San Beda’s Che Aquino and Coline Malana, 21-14, 21-7, to remain in the hunt for a semifinal berth.            – Joey Villar