UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System Dalta tries to close in on a title sweep as it clashes with Arellano University today in the finals of the 93rd NCAA men’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.
The Altas swept the elimination round with nine wins and would need to win two more in their best-of-three title showdown with the Chiefs, who made it this far by edging the St. Benilde Blazers, 25-22, 28-26, 25-23, in the stepladder semis Tuesday, to complete a title sweep.
Joebert Almodiel, who will be awarded as the Rookie MVP and first best outside spiker in the rites set at 3:30 p.m., will be at the forefront of the Las Pinas-based school’s bid to snare its 11th championship, which will put it as the second most titled school behind Letran’s 14 crowns.
“We’re happy to be back in the finals and we’ll do our best to give the school another championship,” said Perpetual Help coach Sammy Acaylar.
Warren Catipay and Jack Kalingking should also draw some of the attention after being named Best Setter and Best Libero, respectively.
In the women’s division, AU seeks to inch closer to a second straight title as it collides with San Beda at 4 p.m.
The Lady Chiefs advanced to the best-of-three finals by trouncing the Jose Rizal Lady Bombers, 25-13, 25-20, 25-17, while the Lady Red Spikers downed the Perpetual Help Lady Altas, 25-21, 25-15, 25-23, to book the other berth.
AU coach Obet Javier said they need to rely on their defense anew to repeat over San Beda, a team it beat, 25-17, 25-10, 25-17, in their elimination round meeting on Jan. 26.
During that same game, AU held Cesca Racraquin, who wound up second to reigning MVP Shola Alvarez of JRU in a tight race, to her season-low output of six points.
Racraquin is also coming off a lowly nine-point effort in the Final Four.
“We got to be solid in our defense as well as in our receive,” said Javier.
Games today
(Filoil Flying V Center)
10 a.m.- Letran vs EAC (jrs semis)
1 p.m.- Arellano U vs Perpetual Help
(men’s finals)
3:30 p.m.- Awarding Ceremonies
4 p.m.- Arellano U vs San Beda (women’s finals)