University of Santo Tomas’ (UST) Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella capped off their year in style, clinching the gold medal at the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Beach Volleyball Invitational on Sunday. They outlasted National University’s (NU) Honey Grace Cordero and Kizil Doren Quijote in a nail-biting 21-19, 21-19 final at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Displaying their signature resilience, Pagara and Progella overcame the same NU duo that had denied them the UAAP Season 87 crown just weeks prior. The victory was a statement of redemption for the UST duo, who dominated the two-day tournament to emerge on top.

A Redemption Run for Pagara and Progella

After a heartbreaking UAAP Finals loss to Cordero and NU teammate Kat Epa, Pagara and Progella returned with a renewed determination. The Tiger Sands duo made their intentions clear early on, breezing past their teammates Grithney Dadang and Angelica del Mar in the semifinals with a convincing 21-10, 21-10 win.

In the gold medal match, Pagara and Progella faced fierce resistance from Cordero and Quijote, both standout performers from NU’s recent UAAP title run. Despite the pressure, the UST pair showcased poise and grit to secure a straight-sets triumph.

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International Success and Bright Future

The PNVF gold medal adds to Pagara and Progella’s growing list of achievements this year. As part of the Alas Pilipinas squad, the duo gained valuable experience competing in international tournaments, including a memorable victory over New Zealand’s Shaunna Polley and Olivia MacDonald in the Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships last month.

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Team Negrense and Air Force Dominate the Podium

In the women’s division, Team Negrense’s Bea Tan and Alexa Polidario secured the bronze medal with a decisive 21-17, 21-8 victory over UST’s Dadang and Del Mar.

The men’s division saw Ranran Abdilla and James Buytrago of Air Force claim the gold medal after dispatching NU’s Sky Gemarino and Wayne Dionela in the final, 21-19, 21-13. The Air Force duo, also part of the Alas Pilipinas team, had earlier bested Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Paul Justine Say and John Ruther Abor in the semifinals, 21-11, 21-10.

NU’s Gemarino and Dionela finished with silver, while Say and Abor rounded out the podium with the bronze medal in the men’s division.

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What’s Next for Pagara and Progella?

With this latest victory, Pagara and Progella continue to establish themselves as a formidable duo in the Philippine beach volleyball scene. As they close the year on a high note, the UST pair is poised to take on bigger challenges in 2024, further cementing their legacy both locally and internationally.