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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Perpetual nails men’s, juniors’ volley crowns

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PERPETUAL Help overcame the injury to setter Warren Catipay and seven-point deficits in the fourth set to turn back Arellano University, 23-25, 27-25, 25-19, 25-23, last night and crown itself champion in the 93rd NCAA men’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

Reigning rookie MVP Joebert Almodiel fired 19 points, 16 came on attacks and the other three on blocks, while Rey Taneo did most of the work as he not only contributed 11 hits and seven digs, but also filled the vacuum left by Catipay with 22 excellent sets to power the Altas to their 11th crown.

It appeared like though that the game was heading into a fifth and final set after the Chiefs posted leads as big as seven points, the last at 19-12.

But the Altas persevered with Taneo on the forefront of the attack.

Taneo was later awarded Finals MVP for his Herculean effort.

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It was double victory for Perpetual Help as its juniors’ team booked its 10th crown after smashing Letran, 25-17, 25-17, 25-17.

Ivan Encila and Noel Michael Kampton led the attack by firing 16 and 15 points, respectively, while Jody Margaux Severo did most the dirty job with nine digs and 15 receptions to help the Junior Altas sweep the Squires in two games.

It was the Las Pinas-based school’s fourth straight title and 11th overall, which put it three behind Letran as the league’s most titled high school team with 14.

“We’re so happy that all the hard work, sacrifices we’ve done have finally bore fruit,” said Perpetual Help coach Sandy Rieta said in Filipino.

In contrast to its 25-16, 25-15, 20-25, 25-20 win in Game 1 Monday, Perpetual Help gave Letran little hope as it dominated from start to finish with a lethal combination of unstoppable attacking, near impenetrable net defense and superb court coverage.

And Severo was the heart of it as not only did he contributed in scoring, he also led his team’s floor defense with nine digs and 15 receptions, enough to earn him his second Finals MVP trophy.

Severo, however, has played his final game in Perpetual Help uniform as he and eight others are graduating.

“I will lose nine players including him (Severo) next year so it will really be tough for us,” said Rieta.

Rieta, however, could console himself with the fact that he will retain Kirth Patrick Rosos, the reigning season MVP, and the power-hitting Kampton, who averaged an impressive 18.5 points in the series.

“That’s my next goal, to find and train players the whole of this year to fill the spots left by my graduating players,” he said.

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