The San Beda University Lady Red Spikers foiled NCAA rivals University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Lady Altas, 25-19, 25-15, 9-25, 25-21, to stay in the hunt for a Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference semifinals spot at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
San Beda’s win elevated their record to 2-4, tied with Saint Benilde and a game behind the University of the Philippines (3-3). The Lady Red Spikers need to defeat the Lady Maroons in their final elimination round match on Sunday at the same venue to forge a tie for the fourth and final semis seat.
If Saint Benilde win over Perpetual in their final elimination round outing on Saturday and force a triple-tie in the standings, the team with the worst quotient via match points won will be eliminated. The two remaining squads will duke it out in a do-or-die match on Wednesday.
The Lady Red Spikers overwhelmed the Lady Altas, who were without key contributor Bianca Tripoli due to a torn left quadricep. San Beda momentarily tailed-off in the third set, however, dropping their worst set defeat of the season.
Head coach Nemesio Gavino charges the third set to their habit of letting up.
“‘Yung third set kasi nag-relax ‘yung mga bata, so noong fourth set naman yung nangyari lumayo na rin kaso ‘yung problema kasi namin ‘yung pag-close out ng game talaga,” said the youthful mentor.
“So ‘yung maturity naga-adjust, so ‘yun talaga ‘yung tinatrabaho namin. Pero may koneksyon naman, kailangan lang namin maging kumportable sa isa’t isa,” he added.
Three Lady Red Spikers scored in double-digits, with Nieza Viray tallying a game-high 19 points. Captain Cesca Racraquin and middle blocker Sattriani Espiritu added 16 and 13 markers, respectively.
Cindy Imbo led Perpetual with 17 points, while Hershey Llorente managed 11.
The Scores
SBU (3) – Viray N. 19, Racraquin A. 16, Espirity 13, Viray J. 6, Manzano 4, Matias 2, Domingo 1, Galang 1, Dioso 0, Racraquin D. (L)
UPHSD (1) – Imbo 17, Llorente 11, Rosal 9, Aldea 5, Gaviola 4, Versoza 2, Castillo 1, Gual 0, Umandal 0, Sangalang (L)
