Rey Taneo Jr. unloaded 21 points, and led a big scoring run in the fifth and final set to power the University of Perpetual Help Altas to a 33-31, 25-22, 23-25, 23-25, 15-9 victory in their Final Four semifinals showdown yesterday at the Arena in San Juan.
The win put the Altas in a finals showdown with the defending champion Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s volleyball tournament.
With Taneo on the firing end had the Altas taking charge in the deciding game with a 6-3 advantage, which they preserved en route to the win after 2 hours and 11-minutes.
The Altas never let go of the lead and stayed in front, 12-8, off drop shots from Manuel Doliente nd Relan Taneo.
“Sa deciding set, kung sino mauna, mananalo. Puso rin ito. Kung sino mas me gusto nito, mananalo,” said Altas coach Sammy Acaylar.
The Generals, meanwhile, drew 30 points from Howard Mojica as they held off the San Beda Red Spikers in the fifth set for a 25-19, 25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 15-9 victory.
Mojica had 27 points off attacks during their one hour and 43 minutelong confrontation.
“Kailangan pa ring paghandaan ang Finals. Nandoon ang hunger factor kasi kailangang paghirapan pa rin namin,” said Generals coach Rod Palmero.
Israel Encina and Kerth Melliza backed up Mojica with 13 and 10 points, and this helped give the Generals an opportunity to seek their second straight crown.
In the junior side, defending champion Perpetual Help overcame a feisty San Sebastian to eke out a 25-23, 24-26, 14-25, 25-23, 15-10 victory booked a return trip to the finals.
Darwin John Salopaso fired a team-best 17 hits while Ryuji Condrad Etorma, team captain Jody Margaux Severo and Ivan Encila scattered 13, 12 and 10, respectively.
This shoved the Junior Altas in a best-of-three championships showdown EAC-ICA, which clinched the other spot by trouncing Arellano U, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21.
“It’s a good feeling making it back to the finals and getting that chance to winning another championship,” said Perpetual Help coach Sandy Rieta.
In the women’s side, Jeannette Panaga scored on a drop shot that sealed the win for the College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers over the Arellano University Lady Chiefs, 25-20, 25-20, 25-23, in the women’s playoff for the second finals berth.
