The tandem of Janez Igot and Jusabelle Brillo, who have been playing together the past three years, withstood the gritty challenge of SWU’s Janelle Tabio and Florian Gutierrez to score a 21-15, 15-21, 15-12 victory before a huge crowd of foreign and local tourists frolicking in the island famous for its pristine beaches.

Also advancing into the semis were Wendy Ann Semana and Shaira Gonzalez of Far Eastern University who bested University of Mindanao-Davao’s Maricel Cabus and Janice Arnaiz, 21-18, 21-19.

In the men’s action, 2001 champion Foundation University and University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) took the first two semis slots by scoring similar hard-earned wins.

Rolando Agus and Arnel Amadeo of FU needed a third set to beat University of Mindanao-Tagum’s Raquelito Tayabas and Rowell Fabian, 21-19, 17-21, 15-11, while Visayas leg champion James Rivera and Jonrey Sasing of USPF outlasted University of Perpetual Help’s Aristian Sartin and Marcelo Joaquin Jr., 26-28, 21-10, 15-10.

It was Igot and Brillo’s third triumph against Tabio and Gutierrez this year following victories in the M. Lhuillier Cup back home and during Visayas leg of the event in Bacolod last month.

UV’s victory dabbed more salt into the wounds of SWU players, who were hoping to get back at their rivals.

"More on placing ng bola, less power ang ginawa ng mga bata," UV mentor Raffy Briones, who has been with the beach volleyball squad for seven years, said.

The win, however, did not come easy as far as Brillo was concerned.

Brillo, a 22-year-old Hotel and Restaurant Management student, was off-target several times due to a dysmenorrhea.

At one point, Briones called for a medical timeout in the second set after Brillo complained she was having difficulty breathing due to a severe chest pain.

But after taking a pain reliever, Brillo returned to action. They, however, lost the set as they failed to stop the onslaught of SWU bets.

But they regrouped in the third set to finally take the fight out of their rivals.

"Nahihirapan din daw siyang huminga at masakit na talaga ang katawan. Sabi ko, maglaro lang siya sa abot ng kanyang makakaya," Briones said.

"Buti na nga lang at pasulpot-sulpot lang ang sikat ng araw. Kung mainit na mainit talaga, malamang hindi niya (Brillo) kayanin," he added.

Despite the loss, SWU still has the chance to make it to the semis provided it beats Adamson.