Far Eastern University’s Lovely Lopez in action against National University on Nov. 21, 2025. Lopez and Melody Pons defeated Ateneo de Manila University’s Liz Lomosco and Grydelle Matibag, 21-16, 21-18, at the Sands SM By The Bay in Pasay City Friday evening (Nov. 28), as the Lady Tamaraws marched to the UAAP Season 88 women’s beach volleyball semifinal. (UAAP photo)
Far Eastern University clinched its place in the UAAP Season 88 women’s beach volleyball semifinals after Melody Pons and Lovely Lopez powered past Ateneo de Manila University’s Liz Lomocso and Grydelle Matibag, 21-16, 21-18, on a breezy Friday night at Sands SM By The Bay in Pasay.
The Lady Tamaraws built strong momentum early in the day, sweeping University of the Philippines’ Jum Gayo and Kryssia Ornos, 21-12, 21-18, to solidify their hold on third place with a 4-2 record.
Tournament frontrunners University of Santo Tomas and National University tightened their grip on the top spots, cruising to 6-0 after dominant victories. UST’s Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella overwhelmed Gayo and Ornos, 21-7, 21-9, while NU’s reigning MVP Honey Grace Cordero and Kizil Quijote dismantled UE’s Van Bangayan and Krisha Revilla, 21-10, 21-10. The two unbeaten squads are set for a high-stakes showdown on Saturday to determine the top seeds heading into the semifinals.
Ateneo and UP, both sporting 3-3 slates, will battle it out for the last Final Four ticket in the women’s division.
Over in the men’s bracket, UST and NU mirrored their women’s teams’ dominance, staying perfect at 6-0. UST’s Dom Gabito and standout rookie Smael Salon overpowered UE’s Julian Celestial and Edesson Lusaya, 21-12, 21-11, while NU’s Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino controlled Adamson’s Iverson Tan and Willie Hitones, 21-17, 21-13.
FEU had a mixed day on the sand, with Reynan Postorioso and Kyle Retiza rallying to beat Tan and Hitones in the morning, 19-21, 21-17, 15-11, before faltering against La Salle’s Von Marata and Andrei Espejo, 16-21, 17-21, later in the afternoon.
Ateneo strengthened its semifinal push behind Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio, who swept UP’s Angelo Lipata and John Torotoro, 21-12, 21-18. Earlier, Lipata and Torotoro scraped out a 19-21, 21-19, 17-15 escape against Marata and Espejo.
As the elimination round nears its finish, FEU and Ateneo sit neck-and-neck at 3-3, while UP, Adamson, and La Salle remain locked in a tight fourth-place gridlock at 2-4—setting the stage for a frantic final sprint to the semifinals.
