University of Santo Tomas secured the spotlight in beach volleyball as Cheng Dadang and Eliza Israel ruled the inaugural BVR U18 girls championship with a dominant unbeaten run. The pair showcased composure and chemistry despite being a relatively new tandem.

Dadang and Israel captured the title with a commanding 21-10, 21-14 victory over Guam’s Landen DeVera and Carmen Eugenia on March 29 at the Nuvali Sand Courts in City of Santa Rosa, Laguna. They controlled the match from the opening serve and never allowed their opponents to build momentum.

The UST duo completed a perfect six-match sweep, underlining their consistency against both local and international competition. Their performance stood out as one of the most impressive displays in the tournament’s first edition.

Unbeaten run powers UST to title

Before reaching the finals, Dadang and Israel also defeated another Guam pair in Lea Aromin and Jaedyn Punongbayan during the semifinals. They secured a 21-16, 21-10 win to advance, maintaining their flawless record.

Dadang expressed her happiness after achieving their goal despite having only a few weeks to build their partnership. She acknowledged the challenge posed by their taller opponents, noting the quality of competition they faced throughout the event.

The inaugural BVR U18 girls championship featured eight teams competing over two days, highlighting the growing interest in youth beach volleyball. Aromin and Punongbayan finished third, while fellow UST pair Nic Delicana and Karlyn Progella placed fourth.

Dadang continues rising in beach volleyball

The title adds to Dadang’s growing list of achievements, following her Junior Tiger Sands championship and MVP award in UAAP Season 88. Her continued success reinforces her status as one of the country’s promising young talents in beach volleyball.

She also emphasized the importance of competing against international teams, pointing out that facing Guam squads provided valuable experience. Exposure to different playing styles is expected to benefit her development moving forward.

With the BVR U18 girls championship secured, Dadang and Israel have set the standard for future editions of the tournament. Their unbeaten run signals a strong future for Philippine beach volleyball at the youth level.