NCAA titlist College of St. Benilde stunned favorite Far Eastern University, 21-15, 15-21, 15-12, yesterday to remain unbeaten in the Luzon leg of the 12th NESTEA Beach Volleyball tournament in Cavite.

The two-year-old tandem of Angelo Espiritu and Eddie Macdon relied on their defensive effort to frustrate Edjet Mabbayad and Jerry Mabutol and move within in a win away from earning a berth in the national semifinals.

It was St. Benilde’s third victory in as many games after downing University of Santo Tomas’s Jayson Ramos and Harbie Ilano, 13-21, 21-8, 15-9, and Adamson U’s John Lozada and Froilan Pantone, 21-13, 21-17, 15-8, in the opening day.

“Mas nag-focus kami sa depensa namin para mas maging effective ‘yung plays namin,” Espiritu, a 21-year-old culinary arts student, said.

Espiritu and Macdon, who only placed fifth in last year’s Luzon leg, fought back from a 10-12 deficit in the deciding set behind their brilliant blocking to turn the game around.

They took a 14-12 lead after Macdon blocked the attempt of Mabutol before Espiritu sealed the win with a whistling cross-court spike.

University of Perpetual Help Dalta also posted its third win as Aristian Sartin and Marcelo Joaquin Jr. downed Philippine Christian U’s Jhester Tuante and Gabriel Usman, 21-18, 23-21.

Sartin and Joaquin prevailed over De La Salle-Dasmariñas’ Jeoffrey Valencia and Joseph Rosal, 21-13, 21-23, 15-7, and St. Francis of Assissi’s Harold Pavia and Michael Manuel, 21-14, 21-23, 16-14, also in the first day.

Adamson, meanwhile, also kept its semis hopes alive by ousting San Beda College’s Christian Aguila and Leonel Laraya, 21-13, 25-23. The Falcons earlier bowed to La Salle-Dasmariñas, 8-21,18-21.

St. Francis of Assissi also revived its hopes with a 15-21, 21-14, 15-5 victory over PATTS College of Aeronautics’ Jeffrey Jimenez and Michael Valencia.

In the women’s action, Letran College clinched its second victory in the double elimination round as Bangladesh Pantaleon and Joy Caises whipped Maica Carlos and Raiza Sucaldito of San Beda-Alabang, 21-9, 21-9.

University of the Philippines’ Miah Manukay and Daniel Castañeda walloped Karen Pis-oy and Stephanie Dayot of St. Louis U, 21-6, 21-8, to remain in contention. They earlier absorbed a 21-16, 17-21, 15-9 defeat to Wendy Semana and Shaira Gonzalez of Far Eastern University.

Also bouncing back from an opening day loss were St. Jude College’s LM Rivera and Jean Rayco who beat University of Cordilleras’ Cindy Benitez and Michelle Remo, 21-17, 15-21, 15-13.

The event is sponsored by Havaianas, Speedo, Mikasa, Penshoppe, Tagum Beach Volley Drome Rotary Park , University of St. La Salle Bacolod , Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park , Crystal Sand Beach Resort, Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel, D’Mall, D’Boracay and Hey! Jude Hotel Resort.