Manila, Philippines - University of the East dominated St. James Meerkats, 11-6, 11-6, to complete its sweep of the Boys B division for the top seeding in the next round of the first Dunkin’ Big Dunk high school beach volleyball at the UE-Caloocan sand courts recently.
The UE spikers, who never dropped a set, thus matched Makati High School’s (MHS) 4-0 slate in Boys A as they lead the cast in the quarterfinal round being played at presstime.
The Meerkats, however, rebounded with an 11-9, 11-3 victory over St. James Anglers, their first in three games as they remained in the hunt for the quarters berth in the tournament sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts and backed by Shakey’s, LBC, Toby’s Sports, Mikasa, Asics, Mighty Sports and Metro Sports.
In Boys A play, St. James Academy-Malabon (SJM) ousted Grace Christian College with a 11-9, 11-5 romp as they finished second to MHS with a 3-1 mark. St. James-Parañaque wound up No. 3 with a 2-2 record and Harrel Horne Integrated School (HHS) took the last spot with a 1-3 slate.
Elizabeth Seton School closed out its elims campaign in Boys B with a 2-2 to advance with St. Joseph College and St. James Meerkats tipped to claim the two other quarters berths with identical 1-2 cards over St. James Anglers (1-3).
Hope Christian College, meanwhile, stamped its class in the girls category as it held off De La Salle-Zobel, 12-10, 11-7, to sweep the seven team Girls A field and clinch the first semis seat.
The Alabang-based squad dropped to 3-1 while HHS stayed in the semis race with a 3-2 slate.
UE likewise advanced to the semis as it toppled Grace Aces, 11-4, 14-12, to close out with a 4-1 card in Girls B with ESS fancied to claim the other slot with a 3-0 mark.
Hope Mighty Sports kept its flickering hopes alive as it stopped Grace Aces, 11-6, 6-11, 11-4, to finish with a 3-2 record.