AFTER being foiled by upstart Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals last year perennial title contenders University of Perpetual Help Altas are poised to return to the throne of men’s volleyball in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball tournament.
The Altas stopped the prolific Howard Mojica’s game and went on to post a 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-19, beating of the defending champion Emilio Aguinaldo College in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals showdown at the Arena in San Juan.
They leaned on the 6’3 Bonjomar Castel’s defensive efforts on Mojica, and they went on tie the series at 1-all. The Altas will have all the momentum they need when they meet the Generals in a decisive Game 3 on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, climbing all the way up from fourth place in the step-ladder semifinals College of St. Benilde could win its first ever women’s volleyball title.
Middle blocker Ranya Musa came up big for CSB as they again beat the San Sebastian College Lady Stags.
Musa led two other teammates, Janine Navarro and Jeanette Panaga in stepping up in the last two sets.
Her frontline plays helped the Lady Blazers put away the defending champion San Sebastian Lady Stags, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, in Game 2 of the women’s finals.
Musa, along with Navarro and Panaga hit 16 points in a big effort which pushed the Lady Blazers a win closer to an historic title conquest.
“At first, walang kuwenta ang laro ko. Pero, sinubukan kong bumawi sa huli,” said the 17-year-old Musa.
After the Lady Stags equalized in the second set, they managed to hang on keep the fight close, 22-23, off Dangie Encarnacion’s placement shot.
The 5’11” Musa then scored on a kill in the next play, Navarro added an ace to take the third set.
In the fourth set, Musa, Panaga and Navarro scored a point each as they led an attack which put the Lady Blazers ahead, 10-5.
After the Lady Stags managed to catch up, 12-13, off Nikka Dalisay’s drop shot and veteran Gretchel Soltones’ kill, Panaga hit 3 of 5 points during another scoring run which allowed CSB to move ahead on a decisive 8-1 run.
The Lady Stags struggled to catch up right after Musa unleashed another placement shot, 22-15.
“It’s about time na gumawa tayo ng history,” said Lady Blazers coach Michael Carino during his huddle with the team.
It was their second consecutive championship victory in their finals showdown with the Lady Stags, who hold a thrice-to-beat incentive over the Lady Blazers.
The Lady Blazers will claim the championship trophy if they beat SSC again on Tuesday.
“History tayo na makakauna na magkaroon ng tatlong beses na panalo sa championship,” said Carino.
It was a great campaign for the Lady Blazers, who emerged from a fourth place finish during the eliminations.
To make it to the finals, they first beat Perpetual Help and then eased out defending champion Arellano University in the knockout stepladder semifinals.
The Lady Stags are known to rely on their scoring from Soltones, who had 27 points.
They can stretch the finals series if they deny the Lady Blazers in Game 3.
Last week, the Lady Blazers made a big effort to stop the Soltones in the fourth set, and it paid off as they pulled off a 24-26, 25-21, 25-19, 25-13 upset over the Lady Stags.
In holding down Soltones, the Lady Blazers came away with the first of three wins they need to snatch the crown away from the Lady Staglets.
Panaga once again took charge for the Lady Blazers, hitting 23 points, with one of his six aces helping CSB to an 11-3 advantage.
Soltones still came up big for the Lady Stags, notching 27 points, and including three straight points off her attacks to threaten 7-14.
The 5-11 Panaga then found ways to stop Soltones.
She scored on a kill and then blocked Soltones’ attempt. Jonah Corpuz also blocked Soltones before Panaga scored from the middle to put CSB further ahead, 22-9.