Men's title-holder University of Santo Tomas and last year's runner-up Far Eastern University swept Saturday's two matches to secure Final Four slots in the UAAP Season 82 beach volleyball tournament at Sands SM By The Bay.
The Tiger Spikers' Jaron Requinton and Rancel Varga bested University of the Philippines' Niccolo Consuelo and Louis Gamban, 21-13, 21-8, before returning in the afternoon with a 21-19, 21-8 romp of Ateneo's Abai Llenos and Kurt Aguilar.
After defeating Ateneo's Llenos and Aguilar, 21-8, 21-9, in the morning session, the Tamaraws' Jude Garcia and Kevin Hadlocon completed a sweep with a 21-12, 21-15 conquest of De La Salle's Vince Maglinao and Ian Jumandos.
"Last playing year ko na 'to, last playing year na rin ni Kevin, kaya sobrang eager akong makakuha ng championship at maibalik ang championship sa FEU," said Garcia.
UST and FEU remained on top of the standings with identical 5-0 records, as the two traditional powerhouses needed only a win in their last two matches to clinch twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.
Also going perfect in the Saturday matches are National University and Adamson University.
The Bulldogs' James Buytrago and James Natividad turned back De La Salle's Maglinao and Jumandos, 21-14, 21-17, and University of the East's Jake Abria and Lloyd Josafat, 21-18, 21-12.
The Soaring Falcons are also on a two-match roll, as Leo Miranda and Jesus Valdez scored a 21-13, 21-9 win over UE's Abria and Josafat, followed by a 21-14, 21-14 over UP's Consuelo and Louis Gamban.
NU and Adamson University are in joint third with 3-2 records.
Those back-to-back defeats dropped the Fighting Maroons out of the top four range at 2-3, one game out of the last Final Four slot.
The Green Spikers and the Red Warriors fell to 1-4, while the Blue Eagles are now at 0-5.