University of Perpetual Help System Dalta will shoot for a grand slam when the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 100 beach volleyball tournament unwraps on 4 February at the Sands Courts of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Klint Mateo will fill the spot vacated by reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Louie Ramirez together with Jefferson Marapoc and Dexter Arrozado in an attempt to defend the crown for third straight time.
Meanwhile, Lara Mae Silva and Gia Maquilang are also aiming for a third consecutive title along with Jogi Maquilang for Letran College in the women’s division.
In the juniors division, Perpetual coach Sandy Rieta is also looking to clinch the crown after a failed podium finish last year when Emilio Aguinaldo College were crowned as champion.
The Altalettes will parade Nathan Ciriaco, JM Regorosa and Kirby Alecida to win their fourth beach volleyball title which was last won in Season 94 by Noel Kampton, Hero Austria and Louis Gamban.
Rieta is also preparing the prospect of regaining the crown they last captured in 2013 featuring Camille Bustamante, Joanna Denise Lozano and Mika Donig.
The teams from Las Piñas City are now in intensive training at the Villa Buenaflor Beach Resort in Tanza, Cavite in preparation for Season 100.
Last year, Letran swept the eliminations of the women’s division as it took down rival San Beda University, 21-16, 21-16.
Lara Mae Silva and Gia Maquilang, along with Jogi Maquilang did not drop a single set en route to the title. Maquilang won all the individual awards, bagging the Freshman of the Year and Rookie-MVP plums.
Before the finals, the Intramuros-based squad eked out a 22-20, 21-13 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College in the Final Four. San Beda, meanwhile, beat Perpetual, 21-18, 21-18.
EAC finished third after beating Perpetual, 21-16, 16-21, 15-10, in the battle for bronze.