The Perpetual Help Junior Altas Girls’ team was crowned the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 champion after defeating Arellano University in five sets, 19-25, 25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 18-16, in Game 2 of their best-of-three championship showdown at the Fil Oil EcoOil Center in San Juan City on Wednesday.
The players of coaches Jason Sapin and Sandy Rieta did not lose their confidence when the elimination round top seed Arellano University won the first set (25-19) as they bounced back in the second with a close 25-23 score.
Arellano U got bounced back in the third, 26-24, but the Tony Tamayo owned school got the clinched the fourth and fifth sets to be crowned champion of the 2nd year of the Junior Girls Division of the oldest league in the country.
Grade 12 tossers Jemalyn Menor, Sherrie Acosta, Jaja San Juan, Middle Blocker Ashlee Buenaventura, setter Jamine Monte and libero Janine Espiritu starred for Perpetual Help.
“I saw in them the determination to win and become champions as they didn’t let go until the 5th set. Then I told them, let’s not let the series go to Game 3, we have Game 1,” coach Sapin said.
Perpetual won the Game 1 of the finals, also in five thrilling sets at 25-22, 17-25, 26-24, 21-25, 15-13, allowing the Altalette spikers to grab the series advantage after entering the championship round as the underdogs with a 3-2 win loss card in the eliminations.
The awarding ceremony of individual awards and champions, together with the podium finishers for the Boys and Girls Division is on May 19, 2024, after the Game 1 Finals of the Men’s Division.
