TITLEHOLDERS University of Santo Tomas dealt Ateneo its first loss of the UAAP Season 84 men's beach volleyball tournament as Efraem Dimaculangan and Rancel Varga downed Abai Llenos and Amil Pacinio, 21-14, 21-19, Saturday at the Sands SM By The Bay.

Trailing 13-17, the Blue Eagles were able.to move to within 16-17 and 19-20 before Dimaculangan hammered the match-clinching kill for the Tiger Spikers:

UST, which also carved out a 21-19, 21-16 victory over University of the Philippines' Daniel Nicolas and Louis Gamban in the morning session, moved up to 2-1 alongside National University in third place.

The Tigers were glad to bounce back from the loss to the Bulldogs in the opener with major adjustments by correcting their lapses and doing things right in their game.

"Siguro nakakuha kami ng dalawang panalo dahil na-lessen yung mga errors namin," said reigning MVP Varga.

NU posted its second straight win after a shock season-opening defeat to De La Salle as James Buytago and Pol Salvador overcame University of the Philippines' Daniel Nicolas and Louis Gamban, 19-21, 21-19, 15-9.

The Blue Eagles failed to follow up their 21-16, 21-18 win over the Green Spikers in the morning session to drop to 3-1.

De La Salle was able to redeem from its loss to Ateneo after Noel Kampton and Vince Maglinao outlasted Far Eastern University's Jelord Talisayan and Vincent Nadera, 25-23, 19-21, 15-11, in a thrilling one-hour, three-minute contest to gain a piece of the lead at 3-1.

Talisayan and Nadera earlier entered the win column following a 21-10, 21-19 romp of Adamson University's Ned Pacquing and Francis Casas.

The Tamaraws and the Fighting Maroons sport 1-2 and 1-3 records, respectively, while the Falcons remained winless in three matches.

Action resumes Sunday with the morning session between Adamson and De La Salle, NU and Ateneo, and FEU and UST. In the afternoon, it will be UP against Ateneo, Adamson, and UST, and NU against FEU. (Dennis Lachica, Sportsmanila Photojournalist)