THE Perpetual Help Altas Spikers begin their title-retention bid in Game 1 of their best-of-three National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 Men’s Volleyball Championship showdown against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals on Sunday at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City.
Multi-titled coach Sinfronio ‘Sammy’ Acaylar of the defending champions wants to win the first game to get the advantage and momentum in the short series.
Acaylar’s senior tossers, led by reigning MVP Louie Ramirez, defeated the Generals in the elimination round with a score of 25-23, 25-23, 25-23.
The goal of the Dr. Tony Tamayo-owned university is to get their 4th consecutive title and 14th crown overall since joining the oldest league in the country in 1984.
“While waiting for our opponent in the finals, we practiced hard and we studied the opponent’s set plays. We also made many plays for our attack and conditioned the first six and second six for the finals,” said team captain Ramirez.
“We prepared a lot for Game 1, I don’t want the players to be complacent at the start of the series, I want them to play with high intensity and I know my team is prepared physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We are just waiting for the result of our two-week preparation for this series,” said Acaylar.
Perpetual Help grabbed the outright first finals berth by sweeping the single-round elims, while Arellano University, Letran and no. 2 EAC entered the stepladder semis.
The Generals defeated Letran in the final stage of the stepladder series in a dramatic 30-28, 25-25, 19-25, 28-26 victory to advance to the championship round.
Meanwhile, the defending champion College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers and Letran Lady Knights will square off in the women’s division finals at 2 p.m.