MANILA – Far Eastern University’s Anna Camille Abanto and Marigail Tolention swept past University of Santo Tomas’ Maru Banaticla and Jen Fortuna, 21-12, 21-8, at the start of the 72nd UAAP beach volleyball tournament at the UE-Caloocan sand courts on Saturday.

Opening their three-peat bid on a bright note, Abanto and Tolentino outsmarted the tandem of Banaticla and Fortuna, who are playing beach volley for the first time.

Meanwhile, Adamson University’s Angela Benting and Leslie Ann Gata played true to form scoring a two-set sweep of Dawn Dizon and Mary Ann Balmaceda of University of the East, 22-20, 21-11.  The Adamson pair is touted to be FEU’s hottest rival for the crown.

De La Salle University’s Jacq Alarca and Charleen Cruz smothered Pau Genido and Amanda Isada of University of the Philippines, 21-14, 21-13.

In the lone women’s game that went the distance, Ateneo de Manila University’s Asia Urquico and Jessica Morado needed four match points to outlast Mervic Mangui and Jennilyn Reyes of National University, 21-15, 22-20, 18-16.

In the men’s side, the Growling Tigers pair of Henry James Pecana and Jayson Ramos started their bid for a back-to-back men’s crown with a smashing win against Falcons John Hendrix Competente and Jun de Asis, 21-16, 21-16.

In other men’s matches, Mark Dalag and Nicasio Dalag of the Red Warriors defeated the Green Archers’ pair of Chris Macasaet at Mark Lee, 21-19, 21-12.

The Tamaraws duo of Joshua Alcarde and Arvin Avila waylaid Mico Lucindo and Justin Sagad of the Fighting Maroons, 21-15, 21-8.  

Walter Cancaan and Philip Layno of the Blue Eagles, meanwhile, edged Jasper Adorador and Danilo Ramosa of the Bulldogs, 16-21, 21-15, 15-9 in the lone men’s game that needed three sets to decide. – Alder T. Almo

For more UAAP, visit www.uaapsports.com.