UE, Makati HS reign in Dunkin' beach volley

MANILA, Philippines - University of the East and Makati High School carved out a pair of hard-earned victories to rule their respective divisions in the inaugural Dunkin’ Big Dunk high school beach volleyball at the UE-Caloocan sand courts last week.

UE outsteadied Elizabeth Seton School in an extended second set duel on a rainy Sunday and pulled off an 11-8, 19-17 victory to capture the girls championship in the tournament sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts.

Makati High School, on the other hand, foiled UE’s bid for a sweep of the three-on-three tournament backed by Shakey’s, LBC, Toby’s Sports, Mikasa, Asics, Mighty Sports and Metro Sports as it repulsed UE, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6, for the boys’ crown.

On hand during awards rites were Dunkin’ Donuts’ marketing services manager Deng Tabucol and marketing services officer Rachel Arroyo.

Skipper Eunique Chan, Pia Sarmiento and Nina Baltazar hung tough in the second frame to finally put away ESS challenge and complete the straight-set win. It also avenged the UE spikers’ lone setback in the elims to the ESS side, 10-12, 11-8, 3-11.

On the way to the finals, UE, which also included Cheska Racraquin, stunned erstwhile unbeaten Hope Christian School in the crossover semis while ESS, composed of Eliesa and Samantha Rasco, Marie Aninang and Shantel Limjoco, subdued De La Salle-Zobel.

Led by Jimel Muyco, Paul Caluya, Bryan Dogillo and John Hernandez, the Makati-based tossers fought back from an opening set setback with a solid game in the next two to hack out the reversal in a duel of unbeaten teams.

MHS and UE swept their respective groups in the elims with the former whisking off St. James Academy-Malabon and the latter, made up of Kim Sawal, Reuel and Geuel Asia and Edward Camposano, bundling out St. James College-Paranaque in the Final Four.