DEFENDING juniors’ champion Perpetual Help is eyeing no lessthan a twice-to-beat advantage when it resumes its campaign in the 92nd NCAA volleyball tournament in January next year at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.
The Junior Altas are currently tied with the Arellano University Braves at second on 3-1 (win-loss) records and should go all out when they tackle the San Sebastian Staglets on Jan. 11, Lyceum of the Philippines University Junior Pirates on Jan. 13, Jose Rizal Light Bombers on Jan. 20 and the Braves on Jan. 25.
All the Las Pinas-based spikers need to achieve it is to finish in the top two after the single-round elimination.
Perpetual Help coach Sandy Rieta said they used the Holiday Season to train and prepare for their last four games.
“We spent the Christmas break to practice because we’re determined to finish in the top two at least,” said Rieta in Filipino.
The Junior Altas are seeking a third straight championship and ninth overall, which is second only to the Staglets’ 15 crowns. They hit a snag though early in the season when they absorbed a heartbreaking 23-25, 25-19, 25-23, 21-25, 15-17, to the Emilio Aguinaldo Brigadiers on Nov. 29 for the former’s only loss thus far.
Interestingly, EAC, the runner-up the last two seasons, is unbeaten in five outings and an elimination-round sweep would propel it straight to the best-of-three finals while reducing the Final Four to a stepladder semis.
If it happens, the No. 2 team after the elims still gets the twice-to-beat advantage, which is what Perpetual Help is now striving for.
“Whatever happens, placing second will ensure us a twice-to-beat advantage. That’s our goal for now,” said Rieta.